Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012—9
THE RAGE OF FLOOD Delta community cries out, seeks aid for victims result of the rampaging flood.
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Teeming internally displaced persons, IDP, at an Ahoada relief camp, Rivers State.
Jonathan reassures flood victims of govt's support F UFORE (ADAMAWA)— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reassured flood victims of government’s support to enable them pick up their lives again. Jonathan gave the assurance, yesterday, while addressing flood victims in Gurin Village in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa. He said: “I am here to give you assurance that we will work with the state government to make sure that as you go back home you will be assisted to start your life again. “On behalf of the Government of Nigeria, I assure you that we will do our best.’’ The president said that government was making all efforts to ensure that displaced people do not spend long period in camps. He said that government agencies including the Army Engineers, had been mobilised to tackle the situation. In his speech, Gov. Murtala Nyako, commended the president for his show of concern by visiting the state, and said that the state government had set up 68 camps for displaced persons across the state.
Nyako said that so far many of the camps had been closed as the flood water receded leaving only 30. He said that his administration was planning a comprehensive package for farmers, who lost their crops, adding that they would be provided with early variety seeds of rice and maize that would mature in 60 days. “We have also ordered for irrigation pumps to be made
available to the farmers,” Nyako said. In his speech, the Chairman of Adamawa Flood Committee, Mr Kobis Thimnu, said the flood was the worst in the state since 1948. Thimnu said the flood was caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon, as well as from the Dadin Kowa and Kiri Dams in Nigeria leading to loss of lives and property worth billion of naira.
ARRI—THE home town of former Justice of Supreme Court, Justice Niki Tobi, one of the most flood ravaged communities in Bomadi local government area has cried out asking sons and daughters living outside to lend a helping hand and not to abandon the community. This message was conveyed after an emergency meeting held in Warri by the Esanma Youth Network and signed by it president, Comrade Andrew Elijah after an assessment tour to the community. Comrade Elijah noted that the people of Esanma have suffered untold hardship as a
Lamenting their predicament, they said the flood has destroyed many houses, farmlands, including the fish pond of a prominent leader, Chief Fred Anesa that has been a source of livelihood to several youths in the community. They also appealed to those who are responsible for the distribution of Federal and state government intervention funds and relief materials to do so with the fear of God. Meanwhile, they urged indigenes of the community abroad to liaise with the Esanma community Warri to channel their contributions to the affected victims.
Community chair raises alarm over flood menace
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HE CHAIRMAN of Okrika (Ofonibenghan) community, in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Tugbofa Ferdinand, has raised alarm that the community was ravaged by the devastating flood. The community leader, who spoke to newsmen, yesterday, said not a single building was spared by the flood, lamenting that Ofonibenghan was most af-
fected by the flood, and that nothing was being done to assist the people of the community by the government and its agencies. He said no human being was still living in the community as the people have been completely displaced by the flood. He said even the community primary school, where Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin E. Clark, attended has been destroyed by the flood.
From left: Chairperson, Committee on Relief Materials, Edo State, Hajia Memuna Momoh; Chief of Staff, Edo State, Mr. Ogie Osarodion; MD/CEO, Mouka Ltd, Mrs. Peju Adebajo and Head, Commercial, Mouka Ltd, Mr. Jude Abonu, during the handover of mattresses and pillows donated by the firm to the flood victims in Edo State in Benin City.
Rt. Hon Basil Ganagana, Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly (2nd right) his wife, Joan (right) and others in truck to navigate the heavily flooded section of the East/West road to distribute relief materials to Bomadi waterside. Photo: Festus Ahon.
Oritsejafor to FG: Declare affected areas said it was worrisome to Jonathan for quickly responddisaster zones seeHethat places such as mar- ing to assist victims in the af-
Flood sacks 62 communities in Delta
BY JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—PRESIDENT, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,said recent flood that submerged houses across Nigeria and displaced thousands of people was horrifying. In a statement signed and made available in Abuja by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, Kenny Ashaka, yesterday, the CAN leader said his organisation shared the traumatic moment with victims of the disaster.
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kets, major roads, schools, bridges, houses, farmlands, among others were submerged in the flood. Ashaka said: ”Pastor Oritsejafor sympathizes with victims of the disaster and prays that God will protect them from all hidden dangers and deadly diseases that may have come with the floods.” He prays also that God will grant them maximum security wherever they are settled. The CAN President applauded President Goodluck
fected areas but reasoned that those for who the N17.6 billion relief fund was meant could only benefit, maximally, if it was treated as Special Intervention Fund and disbursed directly. ”To channel the fund through Ministries, Departments, Agencies and bodies other than the Federal Government Committee set up for that purpose is to create a bureaucratic bottleneck that may end up reducing what should accrue to the victims,”he said.
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ARRI—SIXTY TWO Communities in Obotebe kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have been submerged rendering thousands of people homeless. When our correspondent visited the affected communities, many houses including the palace of Umbi Ezuwei 1, the Ebenaunowei of Obotebe Kingdom were submerged. Some of the communities affected include Kenlougbene, Laboulouseigha, Opuapale, Atiri, Bilaizigha, Ogbogbene, Itokogbene, Antonigbene,
Bulou-Abadegbene, Falewei, Tuogbene, Telemontugbene among others. In a chat with Vanguard, the king of Obotebe, HRM Samuel Akeomotubo, JP, said ”62 communities in Obotebe kingdom have being submerged, property worth millions of naira have been destroyed. I am very surprised with this kind of situation, this is my first experience in this kingdom. 62 Communities that made up this kingdom have being submerged and at the moment I don’t know what to do”.
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