….So far 200 killed, 208,000 displaced; 28 States affected
By Stephen Ojo
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission ( N-HYPPADEC) says Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa has explained that Dadi Kowa Dam in Gombe State is at the verge of collapse and requires urgent action to avert the looming disaster which he said has now become a threat to people and communities living around the facility.
The Managing Director, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa raised the alarm today, Monday, September 2, while addressing the Media at N- HYPPADEC headquarters in Minna, Niger State capital.
Yelwa used the forum to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare state of emergency on flood disaster, explaining flood disaster has been ravaging several communities in 28 states of the federation.
He said, “According to report from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), this year, flood has so far claimed nearly 200 lives, displaced over 208, 000 people in 28 of the country’s 36 states, and washed away many homes and farmlands”.
Speaking further on the condition of the Dai Kowa dam, the Managing Director expressed optimism that disaster would be averted adding that government has mobilised relevant experts to assess the dam.
He said, ” I am aware that the federal government has mobilised experts on inspection of the dam from the ministry of Water and that of environment”.
As immediate and urgent measures, the dam might have to open its spillway in a way that will not further endangered the lives of communities at its down stream .
He lamented that is 80% of the states worst hit by the ravaging flood disaster states are from the N-HYPPADEC member states as a result of their location and electricity generation activities taking place in these states.
He said, “Preliminary report from our officers revealed that in Benue State so far 634 communities have been affected with nearly 30,000 farmlands washed away, in Kebbi State, 6,959 households have been affected with about 10,000 farmlands washed away”.
Yelwa expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his swift response in directing the release of victim support funds to states affected by flood this year, adding that, “this will go a long way in supporting the victims in this trying moment”.