Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Sen. Umar Abubakar Tafida, has inspected rice farmlands submerged by flooding in Bagudo Local Government Area to ascertain level of damage.
Tafida who is the Chairman of a high-powered Safety Management Committee on Flooding, set up by State Governor,Dr. Nasir Idris,along his members were in Bagudo to observe water rising level and prevention measures to be adopted.
They visited the towns of Bahindi, Kende and Tugga in the local government area where many hectares of rice farmlands cultivated this wet season are now under water.
While addressing newsmen after the inspection,Tafida, on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris and the state government, expressed deep sympathy to farmers on losses incurred, pledging that the administration would provide succour to those affected.
According to him, “We are here to ascertain the extent of the flood and subsequent damage to crops, the governor gave us mandate to take remedies”,
“We are aware of the rise in water level of the River Niger, water is still flowing and passing through areas of Lolo and Dolekaina, the governor directed us to mitigate, to save lives, and provide foodstuffs where necessary”,
“Warning has been sounded of impending flow of water from Guinea moving towards Nigeria hitting Kebbi State directly.
“The major assignment of the committee is to prepare fully for whatever eventuality, if the water level continues to soar, we shall evacuate residents to safer areas, the government has mapped out designated places for shelter”, the deputy Governor remarked.
He was also sympathetic to the people of Argungu Emirate where Fadama rice farms were completely flooded as a result of water release flowing from Goronyo dam.
“The administration has set up committees in each local government area to work round-the-clock to checkmate any consequence arising from the impending flood and alert the government for immediate action”, Sen. Tafida announced.
In a remark, the Deputy Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon. Sama’ila Muhammad Bagudo, thanked the state government under Comrade Nasir Idris, for taking prompt proactive measures to mitigate losses suffered by farmers and provide buffer against the impending flood.
“Your Excellency, overflow of water from the River Niger and Rima River, has washed away farmlands here in Bagudo Local Government Area as well as cultivated fields in Suru Local Government Area, our neighbours”,
“In addition to rice fields, farmers also lost other crops including millet and sorghum, yesterday, a passenger vehicle fell inside the river killing all the occupants, the car is still under water”,
“We are appealing to the government to dredge the River Niger to deepening its water hold, sir, when we enter the dry season, sand is visible on top of the river which exacerbate flooding during the rainfall”,
“There is the dire need for dredging to minimize the incidence of flooding”, the lawmaker advised.
The Chairman of Bagudo Local Government, Hon. Muhammad Sambo Aliyu Zagga, expressed immense appreciation to members of the committee for the on-the-spot assessment of the communities affected by the natural phenomenon in the area.