LOKOJA, Nigeria – Kogi State’s emergency management agency (SEMA) is set to establish a new Emergency Operations Centre to enhance its coordination of disaster response, as the state prepares for anticipated heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
Muktar Atima, the Executive Secretary of Kogi SEMA, announced on Monday that the new centre will soon be fully operational, integrating representatives from key ministries including Health, Water Resources, Agriculture, Women Affairs, Education, and Information, to ensure a comprehensive response. This move aims to streamline efforts as the agency intensifies its sensitization campaigns in flood-prone communities, particularly those situated along the Niger and Benue Rivers.
Mr. Atima confirmed that Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across vulnerable areas have been identified and prepared to accommodate potential flood victims. He stated that over 258 communities located along major waterways have been engaged, with traditional rulers, youth groups, and religious leaders enlisted to disseminate crucial information on relocation plans and precautionary measures.
The agency also highlighted its ongoing assessment of newly affected areas, such as Kabba and Ijumu Local Government Areas, which recently experienced flash floods, and reiterated its call for the construction of a dam in the Shintaku area to alleviate pressure from overflowing rivers.
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