By Muhd D Haidar
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi has announced that the recent flood disaster has affected over 40,000 people and claimed 28 lives.
The Governor stated this during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund at the Government House in Dutse.
Governor Namadi told his visitors that the flood has devastated 14 local government areas, displacing 8,000 people who are currently in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, added that the disaster resulted in the collapse of over 7,500 houses and the destruction of 6,500 farmlands across the affected LGA’S.
He expressed concern over the early onset of flooding, attributing it to the silting of dams and the release of water from dams, urged the federal government to conduct environmental impact assessments for road constructions and other projects to prevent artificial environmental problems.
Citing the example of the Shuwari-Maiduguri federal highway construction, noted that it has caused flooding in previously unaffected areas.
He further appealed to the committee to assess the damage and provide special assistance to the state.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund, Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, explained that the committee is in Jigawa to identify areas requiring special intervention to address ecological challenges, noted that Jigawa was selected among a few states to benefit from the committee’s tour due to its significant ecological challenges.
