Date: 2012-10-20

The Federal Ministry of Environment on Saturday in Abuja announced a prediction of heavy rainfall which could cause flooding between now and Oct. 27 in 19 states and the FCT.

Dr Morohunkeji Oyeleke, the ministry's Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, made the announcement in a statement

The ministry identified the states as Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Borno, Oyo, Niger, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Lagos, Osun, Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Adamawa, Gombe, Imo, Ogun and Kebbi.

It also identified in specific terms some areas that could be affected as Sakaba in Kebbi, Sagamu in Ogun, Okigwe in Imo and Nafada in Gombe state.

Other areas are Kari and Kirfi in Bauchi state, Makira in Sokoto state,Shelleng and Shendam in Plateau, and Mubi and Numan in Adamawa.

The ministry also listed Donga, Lau and Mutum-Biyu in Taraba, Etiosa, Lekki and Surulere in Lagos state and Igbo-Ora in Osun.

It further listed Briyel in Bukuru and Otukpo in Benue, Calabar in Cross River and Eket, Etinan, Ikot-Nakada, Itu and Oron areas of Akwa Ibom.

The flood-prone areas included Abaji, Kwali, Bwari, Mabushi, Kukwaba, Guzape, Karu, Kuje, Kurudu and Lugbe in the FCT.

The ministry also said areas which could be affected by the downpour-induced flood included Apata, Bodija, Challenge, Eleyele, Moniya, Aiyete, Eruwa, Iseyin, Kisi and Ogbomoso in Oyo state.

It also listed Bida, Katcha, Kontagora, Mashegu and Sarki Pawa, all in Niger, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, Jemaa, Kachia in Kaduna state and Bode Saadu, Ilorin, Kosubosu and Lafiaji in Kwara.

The ministry appealed to the governments in the identified states to take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid any untold hardship.

It added that adherence to similar warnings in the past had saved many peoples' lives and property.
FG to scale up cash transfer scheme for flood victims
Dr Precious Gbeneol, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on MDGs, says conditional cash transfer scheme to cushion the effect of flood disaster will be scaled up by the Federal Government.

Gbeneol said this on Friday while speaking at the Saint Joseph flood camp in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area.

The special adviser, who was on a visit to the state to sympathise with the flood victims, was accompanied by Gov. Peter Obi and members of the state committee on flood.

The MDGs boss also announced that Anambra was one of the states that would benefit from the conditional cash transfer scheme.

She said that the MDGs office would collaborate with the state governor and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to mobilise resources.

She said this would serve as a precautionary measure in view of the health hazards that could follow the flooding.

Gbeneol said that her office intended to reach out to more than 56,000 households across the country.

"We also plan to work with other stakeholders in the areas of access to affordable staple food, water and sanitation to ensure that we bring succour to those in need," she added.

She said that the 2012 conditional cash transfer scheme in Anambra was in the process of being released.

The special adviser said the funds would be utilised for pro-poor interventions in affected areas to mitigate the socio-economic shock the flooding could cause vulnerable households.

Gbeneol, who was visibly moved by the condition of the internally displaced persons in the camp, presented relief materials worth over N7million to the people.

Items donated included 300 bags of rice; disinfectants; 200 cartons of tomatoes and milk, among others.

Gbeneol said that she was also in the state to interact with stakeholders on ownership and protection of MDGs projects.

She said that the rebuilding of the communities would be the priority of the MDGs.

"Whatever that has happened, God is in control, we are going to provide adequately to cater for the IDPs in this state especially on health grounds," She said.

Responding, the governor said he was pleased with the visit of the MDGs boss.

He regretted that food items which used to sell at N500 had now gone up to about N3, 000 because of the flooding.

"It is a thing of joy that we have the MDGs leader in this state, we have a clear articulated strategy in this state and because of the proper planning, things are moving smqoothly in Anambra State," Obi further said.

(NAN)