The Kebbi State Government has set up a high-powered 14-man safety-crisis management committee to avert the effects of impending flood sequel to the forecast of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
The Commissioner of Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed-BK, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after Wednesday the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Birnin Kebbi.
”We received a warning from NIMET through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), that some local government areas will experience flood devastation which is expected to come from neighboring countries.
”As a result of this, we discussed the matter and Gov. Nasir Idris has approved the constitution of a 14-man committee to quickly swing into action and identify the areas likely to be affected.
”We are working on this forecast; it’s not 100 per cent certain, but it is very likely.
”We are warned that water will pass through Central Guinea, in Equatorial Guinea, River Senegal in Senegal; River Gambia in Gambia and Niger Republic down to Nigeria, specifically in the northern part of the country, and Kebbi in particular,” he said.
Ahmed-BK said the government would not take the forecast lightly, going by the recent flood in Borno, where half of Maiduguri, the state capital, was submerged by flood.
”The committee will be chaired by the Deputy Gov., Umar Abubakar, with some Local Government Chairmen, Commissioners, religious leaders, traditional rulers as well as representatives from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as members,” he said.
Ahmed-BK explained that the water would likely move through Argungu, Bunza, Jega, Birnin Kebbi and Augie, among other local government areas in Kebbi state.
The commissioner observed that it was the primary responsibility of the state government to protect the lives and properties of the citizens across the state.
NAN
