By Divine Sam
A catastrophic flood in Kebbi State has resulted in 29 fatalities and the destruction of 329,000 homes, displacing thousands. The flood has also submerged 858,000 hectares of farmland, severely impacting essential crops like rice and millet, raising concerns about a potential food crisis.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Birnin Kebbi, emphasized the overwhelming nature of the disaster, stating that local resources are insufficient to manage the aftermath. He mentioned that the state government is compiling a report to seek federal assistance and is focused on providing improved seeds and agricultural inputs to help affected farmers recover.
Preliminary reports indicate the distribution of casualties across various areas, with significant losses in Ngaski, Maiyama, Kalgo, Jega, and Birnin Kebbi. The commissioner expressed surprise that Kebbi’s representatives in the National Assembly have not yet visited the affected regions to provide support.
In light of the ongoing crisis, the government may consider evacuating residents from flood-prone areas who refuse to move to safer locations.