NEMA can't cope with Kogi flood disaster, says senator

EROMOSELE EBHOMELE

Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly has described the flood that has overtaken Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, as beyond the capability of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The Senator, who said he was personally touched by the disaster that has rendered indigenes and residents of the affected area homeless and destroyed farmlands, also pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to avoid delay in sending a supplementary budget to the National Assembly in order to effectively handle the situation.

The Senate had within the week called on the President to immediately send a proposal to it for the government to cater for the displaced people of the country as a result of the flood that has also affected some other states of the federation.Senator Abatemi-Usman confirmed that over 73, 000 people were displaced by the flood across nine Local Government Areas of Kogi State.

In a statement he made available to P.M. NEWS, the Senator said the supplementary budget will effectively address the immediate needs of those affected by the flood.

“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the over 73,000 people in Kogi state and those in other parts of Nigeria said to have been displaced by flood, and of course, the families of those who have lost their lives to the calamity. “President Goodluck Jonathan must as a matter of urgency respond to the demand of the Senate asking him to come up with a supplementary budget to assist the victims of the flood, which has brought untold hardship on the people affected,” Abatemi-Usman said.

While commending the government of Kogi state and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for making effort to provide relief camps for the victims, he insisted that the federal government has to make serious effort apart from allowing NEMA handle the situation alone.”The victims must not be left in the lurch. They must be made to have a feel of government gesture at this trying moment for all of them. “We should at least let them know that they have a government that cares about their plight,” the senator said.