As part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of the devastating floods caused by the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has urged affected communities to relocate to safer areas.
The directive was issued during a visit by the NOA Flood Sensitization Evaluation Team to flood-affected regions in Kogi State.
The team, comprising senior NOA officials, including Alhaji Nura Kobi Yusuf from the Department of Planning, Research, and Strategy, Emeka Egbugara from the Environment, Energy, and Climate Change Department, and Paul Odenyi from the Press Unit, began their visit at Edeha, a fishing community submerged by 80% due to rising floodwaters from the Niger River.
Speaking during the sensitization forum, Mallam Issa-Onilu stressed the importance of quick relocation, noting that the Agency’s efforts aim to minimize the human and material impact of the floods through timely information and coordinated action. He emphasized that proactive measures by communities would help prevent further loss and destruction.
The Kogi State Directorate of the NOA, alongside state government representatives led by Dr. Sandra Mimi Nura and officials from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), participated in the sensitization programme. Kogi State NOA Director, AbdulGaniyu Dare, confirmed that the campaign would cover all nine local councils likely to be affected by the dam’s water release.
During the visit, Alhaji Nura Kobi Yusuf, representing the Director General, urged residents to take advantage of the state’s resettlement programme to safeguard lives and property. He highlighted the urgency of the situation, warning that staying in flood-prone areas puts lives at great risk.
Chief Abdullahi Isah, a community leader, reported that affected residents from areas such as Adamugu, Akpaku, Oniwaru, Owara, Igamuma, Adabode, and Egaki have started moving to safer locations. The Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Gambo, also met with the NOA team and expressed his gratitude for their efforts. However, he acknowledged the challenge of convincing some residents to leave their ancestral homes despite the recurrent nature of floods.
Other flood-hit locations, including Ikpata Market and Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government Area, were also visited by the team to assess the situation and offer further support.
The visit highlighted the critical need for continued sensitization and coordinated efforts to reduce the risks and ensure the safety of communities as floodwaters continue to rise across Kogi State.
