Flood: Kogi to begin evacuation in 48hours time

Kogi State Government says it will in the next forty eight hours begin the process of evacuating people living in flood prone areas.

Yomi Awoniyi, Deputy Governor, and Chairman flood Management Committee, said the evacuation protocols would be activated by the state government if the water level continues to rise.

Awoniyi disclosed that the water from close monitoring rises every hour, said the state is no longer as comfortable as it thought, appealed to those living in flood prone areas to move upland to avoid the severe loss to lives and properties.

The Deputy Governor said the water has so far risen to 9.66m, described the present situation as disconcerting as some communities in the riverine areas of the state have already been flooded.

Awoniyi disclosed that from report, so far received some riverine communities in Kogi, Bassa and Ibaji LGA of the state have been flooded, however described the present flooding of those areas as an annual occurrence,  pointing out that though the situation as at press time, is not as worse as the scenario in 2012.

While he noted that by this same time in 2012, the state had been completely submerged, the state government he maintained has placed all agencies on alert for the purposes of evacuation and rescue, but appealed to the people to move upland and to alternative places so as not to incur heavy losses.

Awoniyi called on the people to remain vigilant in the face of the risen level of the water, as government is working round the clock to ensure that lives and properties are safe.