Flood threat looms in Niger State as hydro dams issue emergency warning - NaijaAgroNet

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The four major hydro-electric dams in Niger State, namely Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru, have issued a warning of imminent water release due to excess inflow.

According to The Guardian, the notification was relayed to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), which promptly alerted riverine communities to relocate upstream to avert possible disaster.

Flood Control in Nigeria: McEnies wins deal with FCDO, UK Met Office - NaijaAgroNet

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McEnies Global Communications has achieved a new feat with the sealing a contract with UK Met Office to develop improved communications practices on weather information and work out meaningful communication strategies to mitigate against perennial flooding in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The project which is being sponsored by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will bring together several relevant government agencies, like Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

FLOOD: ALeP urges NEMA, Anambra State govt to assist Awba-Ofemili victims - NaijaAgroNet

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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Anambra State government led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo have been asked to urgently assist flood victims in Awba-Ofemili town among others.

Awba-Ofemili is a community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State and was heavily ravaged by the recent flood, sacking some villages including in Umuosite and some parts of Ege, Nkpuocha, Oka-akwu, Ngene Nkpumekwu communities to name a few.

200 dead as late rains, floods threaten food security – SADC

NaijaAgroNet

Executive Secretary, Southern African development Community, (SADC) Dr. Lawrence Stergomena Tax, has at a recent SADC Council of Ministers meeting held in Harare, Zimbabwe confirmed that late last year’s floods and rains of early this year, has threatened food security in the Southern Africa region, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that the food security situation in the region is expected to be less than satisfactory during the 2015/16 marketing year as a result of poor rains in most parts of the region, dry spells in some areas, and floods in other areas.

Dr Tax, NaijaAgroNet learnt, expressed dissatisfaction over the situation, noting that SADC would continue to monitor the situation and support early warning for food security and vulnerability assessments in the member states.

In a report on food security assessment presented at the 34th SADC Summit held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in August last year, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the region had recorded a cereal surplus of more than 670 000 metric tonnes during the previous agricultural marketing season year.

This, according to the report, was mainly attributed to good rainfall, better access to inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, as well as credit facilities and extension services.

NaijaAgroNet also learnt that the floods of which affected parts of Southern Africa between late last year and early this year, left 200 people dead and 500,000 displaced in Malawi, while in Mozambique, about 27, 838 households suffered losses in cash crops.

Meanwhile SADC during the council meeting, deliberated on innovative ways of dealing with problems associated with changes in weather patterns, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, said it was now time for the region to seek ways to curb increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods which adversely affects key sectors of the regional economy including agriculture.

Mumbengegwi, who is also Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs Minister, told NaijaAgroNet that SADC to help deal with poor rains, would invest more in regional water infrastructure development such as irrigation, allowing the region to farm all year around and not only depend on climatic conditions to deal with poor rains.

As agriculture is the backbone of most economies in southern Africa, and more than 62 percent of the SADC region’s 277 million people are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Council of Ministers, would canvass for an increased budget allocations to agriculture as well as targeted subsidy programmes that would result in farmers accessing agricultural inputs and farm implements at cheaper rates.

Daniel Nsolibe/GEE 

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Global food price index down by 1% in October

Traders at the Oshodi Market, Lagos

The October Food Price Index by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation recorded a two-point drop, a one per cent drop from September.

The price index for October was at 213 points against 215 points of the previous month.

The Food Price Index made available to NaijaAgroNet showed that the decline is characterised by the reduction in international prices and freight rates, lower cereal purchases which has the capability to push down the world food import bill of the year.

Commenting on the latest price index, FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva noted that a set of conditions and measures were put in place to stop international food price from spiraling up as it did in 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.

One of the important measures, da Silva said is the improved international coordination and market transparency by the G20's Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) which assisted in preventing panic and putting a stop to the worst drought in decades, which is already leading to a food price crises.

"Droughts or floods are not what cause crises, its lack of governance," the FAO boss said, adding that there is a need to strengthen the global governance of food security.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that the first 10 months of the year experienced food prices on average of 8 per cent lower than the same period in 2011, and food forecast for 2012 was $1.14 trillion, about N179 trillion.

Yinka Awosanya/ED

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Anambra State: The Flood and Awba-Ofemili People

 Preamble:

The recent flooding that affected Anambra State, no doubt, must have exposed it to a lot of characters, administrative lapses and leadership questions begging for some answers, especially concerning the politicking going-on over the flood and affected communities.

Anambra State, is a name ordinarily taken from a popular river linking the River Niger and known as ‘Anambra’ or ‘Omabala’ River. Strategically located in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, Anambra State is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north, claiming to have one of the highest population densities on the continent.

The state comprises numerous thickly populated villages, a number of small towns and a few major towns; some areas are so thickly populated that the estimated density is 1500-2000 persons living within every square kilometre. One of such towns is Awba-Ofemili in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, which has border with Enugu State via Ibeto-Olo.

Awba-Ofemili, a town cut-off by flood:

Though Awba-Ofemili was cut-off by the recent flood surge, culminating in loss of properties and agricultural products worth billions of Naira, there was no record of loss of live yet. Mainly an agrarian town, Awba-Ofemili, reputed for massive rice production is located less than 25 minutes drive from the capital city of Awka, Anambra State, under normal circumstances where good roads prevail. Incidentally, lack of accessible road has been the bane of development in Awka-North and Awba-Ofemili precisely.

Speaking on the recent flood, chairman, Lagos branch of Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU), Mr. Kenneth Okoye told NaijaAgroNet the situation is lamentable, saying that Awba-Ofemili as an agrarian community known for rice production has lost a lot of economic products worth billions of Naira, including cassava, yam and plantain farms, while some building soaked by the flood have since given way.

Describing the flood as unbelievable, says its worrisome that the government of Anambra State did not find it worthy to visit the town in the peak of the disaster, he enjoined well spirited individuals to come to the aid of the towns affected by this River Niger surge, especially Awba-Ofemili.

The Awba-Ofemili town was seriously hit with this surge that farmers no longer attend to their farms, while all the eight villages that made up the town remain drastically affected.

Our reporter who visited the community and spoke to some of the indigenes discovered that one of the villages in Awba-Ofemili, Umuosite, was under water thereby cut off with most residents relocating to a building along Umuosite Road for their safety, while those living along the Umuosite road were sacked as they now use canoe to pass between Umuosite and other villages like Oyeagu and Akpana.

Women leader calls on Obi, FG, NEMA

One of the residents and women leader in Awba-Ofemili, Madam Christiana Nweke said that the level of flood reached a lintel of one of the storey buildings along Umuosite Road and made the road, especially leading to farm lands around that area unaccessible, whilst the flood lasted.

The women leader called on the government, especially Gov. Peter Obi to quickly come to their aid, while praying that the flood subsidises permanently.

It was further gathered that the only major road leading to Awba-Ofemili, which has been begging for attention over the years, was cut off too as indigenes trying to access Awka the capital city of Anambra State, were being ferried at four points before they could even get to neighbouring town like Ugbenu.

At the Agu-enu part of the town, especially behind the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, the flood was not stopped, as it took the church land for granted.

Further investigations showed that Hon. Mrs. Joy Enweluzor, the chairperson, Awka-North, visited the Awba-Ofemili town on canoe with her team of executive and promised to send food stuff and other aids to the town.

Our sources said that several letters on the flooded Awba-Ofemili and environs have been communicated to the governor of Anambra State, who is yet to visit the affected town personally.

They called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) not to forget Awba-Ofemili town in the course of their distribution of aids to flood victims.

Gov. Obi of Anambra State

Flood disaster emergency fund

Despite the fact that the Anambra State government set up a three-man Flood Disaster Emergency Fund Committee made up of the Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Prof. Mrs. Chinyere Stella Okunna, Ms. Ngozika B. Okoye, Hon. Commissioner for Finance and Mrs. Azuka Enemo, Hon. Commissioner for Local Government, the flood victims in Awba-Ofemili are yet to see the light in having such a committee in the state, especially in Awba-Ofemili, where every relief material have been stored away in Ugbenu due to bad road.

Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, who confirmed these in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, adding that two bank accounts, namely at Diamond Bank - 0028548840 and Fidelity Bank – 4020912984; were opened for this purposes and to facilitate the work of the state government in alleviating the effects of current flood rage across the state.

The Anambra State Government (ANSG), thus, invited Anambrarians and the Nigerians at home and in diaspora as well as all well-meaning citizens of the world to rally support for the affected citizens of Anambra State, as one of the most affected states by the flood.

The bigger challenge, he said, would be in the medium and longer terms, when the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would need to be returned to their respective homes, rehabilitated and resettled after the flood receded completely.

Canvassing for vote:

The ANSG, he said, would be counting on the Federal Government, its agencies, especially NEMA and international partners, to join hands with the state in overcoming the unprecedented humanitarian challenge.

 “We thank all those who have expressed concern in cash or in kind or sent goodwill messages about this catastrophic disaster,” he said.

ANSG acknowledged that well-meaning citizens and organizations have also been making donations in kind, through SEMA.

All in-kind donations, Obaze pointed out should be directed to the SEMA office along the Enugu-Onitsha Road (by J-Jumac Hotel), Awka, even as SEMA could be reached by phone 08037424242.

NaijaAgroNet confirmed that the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr. Obaze visited the Awba-Ofemili Amensea axis of Awka-North LGA, but could not get to Awba-Ofemili due to submerged road.

However, it has been argued that if it had to do with votes, the Governor Peter Obi-led government of Anambra State, would not have sent the SSG and even the SSG should have found a way of getting to the town, Awba-Ofemili, to canvass for votes, which they got in good numbers at the last election.

Just before the curtain:

Does it then not make sense that an alternative route should have been used in ensuring that those victims, especially in a town like Awba-Ofemili, should have been reached through airlifting of such people and materials.

This is a poser for the leadership of Anambra State under Mr. Peter Obi to answer. By the way, how much will it take the government to get these aid materials airlifted?

Another school of thought argued that its only the military that has the helicopter for such kind of services. If so, is this flood disaster not enough to attract military sympathy? Or are we waiting for deaths to be recorded?

It is true that aids have been sent to Awba-Ofemili by the state governments, Senator Nwabueze Ngige, Hon. Emeka Nwogbo and his state house of assembly counterpart as well as the LGA chairperson, the fact is that these aids materials have not reached the destination, the people of Awba-Ofemili, because there is no road and airlifting of these materials probably was an option for the donors and state government particular, in spite of efforts to get them notified on the efficacy of delivering the materials appropriately.

There is need to have an operational health centre in place to cater for the residents of Awba-Ofemili. We must not wait until there is one outbreak or another.

Also, it is certain that some of the items may even have gotten bad due to poor storage. What this tells us, sadly is that if it had been a more serious thing than what was seen, no live, actually would have been saved from Awba-Ofemili?

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Awba-Ofemili town sacked by River Niger flood

Gov. Peter Obi, please do something!

The Awba-Ofemili town in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State has been cut-off by the surge of River Niger, culminating in the loss of properties and agricultural products worth billions of Naira.

Awba-Ofemili is mainly an agrarian community located less than 25 minutes drive from the capital city of Awka, Anambra State and is reputed for massive rice production.

The Awba-Ofemili town in Awka-North Local Government Area of Anambra State has been cut-off by the surge of River Niger, culminating in the loss of properties and agricultural products worth billions of Naira.

Confirming this, chairman, Lagos branch of Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU), Mr. Kenneth Okoye in a chat with newsmen lamented the situation, saying that Awba-Ofemili as an agrarian community known for rice production has lost a lot of economic products worth billions of Naira, including cassava, yam and plantain farms.

He described as unbelievable that the flood has continue to wax stronger in the face of seemingly nothing being done by the government, he enjoined well spirited individuals to come to the aid of the towns affected by this River Niger surge, especially Awba-Ofemili.

As at the time of filing this report, the Awba-Ofemili town has been seriously divided with this surge that farmers no longer attend to their farms, while all the eight villages that made up the town have been drastically affected.

Our reporter who visited the community and spoke to some of the indigenes discovered that one of the villages in Awba-Ofemili, Umuosite, has since last week been cut off with most residents relocating to a building along Umuosite Road for refuge, while those living along the Umuosite road have been sacked by the flood as they now use canoe to pass between Umuosite and other villages like Oyeagu and Akpana.

One of the residents and women leader in Awba-Ofemili, Madam Christiana Nweke said that the level of flood has reached a lintel of one of the storey buildings along Umuosite Road and made the road, especially leading to farm lands around that area unaccessible by the day.

She also called on the government, especially Gov. Peter Obi to quickly come to their aid, while praying that the River Niger surge subsidizes soon.

It was further gathered that the only major road leading to Awba-Ofemili, which has been begging for attention over the years, has been cut off too as indigenes trying to access Awka the capital city of Anambra State has to be ferried twice before they could even get to neighbouring towns like Ugbene, Ugbenu.

At the Agu-enu part of the town, especially behind the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, the flood has not stopped.

Hon. Mrs. Joy Enweluzor, chairperson, Awka-North, it was gathered visited the Awba-Ofemili town, Tuesday on canoe with her team of executive and promised to send food stuff and other aids to the town.

Our sources said that several letters on the flood of Awba-Ofemili and environ have been communicated to the government of Anambra State.

They called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to remember the Awba-Ofemili town in distribution of aids for the flood victims.

 

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UN urges political leaderships to lead disaster management

Dr. Satterthwaite, IFAD Senior Fellow

The United Nations (UN) has found out that political leadership is very crucial in terms of protecting lives and economic assets of cities from disasters.

The 2012 report of Making Cities Resilient, a major urban safety campaign launched two years ago by UN revealed to NaijaAgroNet that local governments through a team led by a Senior Fellow of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Dr. David Satterthwaite, had reduce disaster risk.

A press release made available to NaijaAgroNet by IIED revealed that despite rise in extreme weather events, Dr. Satterthwaite’s team affirmed that the Making Cities Resilient campaign is proving that urbanization does not have to lead to an increase in risk. "Where city and local governments demonstrate leadership and competence in working with low-income populations living in informal settlements flood impacts can be reduced and the threats from other natural hazards minimized," part of the report stated.

The campaign created by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction now have over 1,050 members from major metropolis across San Francisco, Copenhagen, Cape Town and Mumbai to small towns in countries such as Austria and Pakistan.

Margareta Wahlström, the UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction also disclosed that over $100 billion, about N16.1 trillion is lost to disasters annually for the past two decades.

"Most of these damages can be avoided through better risk management and investment in social and structural infrastructure," said Wahlström that some communities are already leveraging on whatever resources they have to reduce the impact of disaster event in their environs.

Wahlström cited an example of such communities to be the local government of Siquirres in Costa Rica which joined the campaign and in six months was able to avoid the usual annual flood of February in 2012.

"There are many cities like Siquirres which are proving that if you manage your risks, you build your resilience to disasters and avoid unnecessary disruption in the home and the workplace,” she concluded.

Yinka Awosanya

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