Press statement Issued at the Flood Awareness and Mitigation Campaign Organized by LEAD Benue Cooperative Society on the 21st July, 2017.

Fellow countrymen;

Today is not a pleasant day even that it offered us a great reunion because the occasion is not one of merry making.

Given the report by the Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (HIHSA), Moses Beckley, warning of impending floods this 2017. This action became necessarily for us as Benue was also listed among the 30 states that will be affected by the floods. At this point, the floods cannot be circumvented but it can largely be contained and fatalities avoided.

In the previous years, Benue has suffered a great deal from the aftermath of similar floods with a good number of citizens rendered Internally Displaced Persons, who had to live in informal camps as there were no official government camps set up for them. Sadly, some primary schools in the State had to bear the brunt as their school calendars were interrupted and suspended for weeks and months in some cases.

The laissez faire attitude of authorities toward the flood was largely the greatest catalyst to the effects it left. It is against this backdrop that we have undertaken to create an awareness ahead of the impending floods as warned by NIHS, the ways of mitigating the effects and the possible way forward.

We have further offered ideas that have strategically been grouped into short, mid and long term measures to contend the menace of flood in Benue state. There are multiple approaches to achieving the recommendations offered herein. These revolves around awareness, mindset change, new policy/policy change and improvement, citizens-government-business sector collaboration,

prevention/incentive/sanctions, institutions building, etc

Short Term

Intensive sensitization and sustained awareness

Drainage clearing/sanitation enforcement

Efficient and transparent emergency and relief management

Mid Term

Establishment of Early Warning Systems under SEMA

Building of massive drainage canals around flood prone areas

Long Term

Dredging of River Benue

Building of Dams

Urban/Town Plan renewal

We call on the relevant MDAs in Benue state to rise up to the occasion and attract federal Government intervention on the flood situation in the state. We take this time out to appreciate our media friends and all active citizens who deemed it fit to join in this awareness activity. We call on all active citizens to join us this morning as we embark on drainage clearing activity in Wurukum, Makurdi.