Relations of dead victims of the flooding that ravaged some states in the country and those who lost belongings to the disaster have yet to recover from the unsettling episode, writes TOPE OMOGBOLAGUN
In recent times, flooding had turned disasters in some states with residents getting scared whenever it rains.
The National Emergency Management Agency had declared flooding as a national disaster in five more states – Adamawa, Taraba, Rivers, Kebbi and Bayelsa.
The declaration came because of the flooding which displaced several residents, damaged property and maimed some.
Also, The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has warned that nine states on the River Niger trough and three others on River Benue trough may experience flooding this year. Some of the states include Niger, Anambra, Kwara, Benue, Kogi, Kebbi and Jigawa.
Farmlands worth several billions of naira have been washed away creating panic across the country of an imminent food shortage next year while hundreds of Nigerians have been displaced, taking refuge in many camps in the states, worst hit by the disaster.
Rice farmers in Kano suffer N5bn loss
The Chairman of the Kano State chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, lamented that rice farmers in over 20 local government areas of the state, suffered monumental loss to the flood.
Aliyu told one of our correspondents on Friday that his colleagues lost investments conservatively valued at over N5bn.
He said, “Most of our members were affected by the flood disaster, which submerged hectares of farmlands across the state. A lot of rice farms were even washed away by the raging flood.
“An assessment of the damage recorded in our farms indicated that we had lost over N5bn investments which are basically the loans we got from the government.”
He noted that some of the rice farms, particularly in Ajingi and Warawa local government area of the state, were affected. He added that over 1,000 farmers were victims of the disaster in Ajingi alone.
He explained that the Ajingi farmers suffered lost over N219,000 each, bringing the total sum to over N2bn.
Abdullahi also said over 750 rice farmers in Wudil Local Government Area of the state, lost hectares of farmlands to the flood.
He said, ‘’In Warawa, about 890 rice farmers were affected by the flood disaster. We have visited the affected rice farmers, with a crew from Abuja, comprising officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Agricultural Company, Unity Bank and the national officers of RIFAN, to assess the extent of destruction by the flood disaster.
“More than 16 local government areas were affected this year,’’ he added.
My N20m plantain farm gone, says Egware
Victor Egware, a holder of Master in Political Science from the University of Benin, is a native of Emevor in the Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Egware told SUNDAY PUNCH that he took to farming in order to cushion the effect of unemployment and to contribute to Nigeria’s food sufficiency drive five years ago.
He said, “I leased hectares of land and planted over 30,000 plantain suckers in my farms located at Ogbeti and Afor communities in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area.
“The farm was thriving until the entire plantation was washed away by the rampaging flood leading to a loss of over N20m. I still owed N3m which I borrowed to expand the farms. I’m currently depressed and have no job to do.”
My N5m cassava farm washed away –Iya
Also, an indigene of Iwhrekan town in Ughelli South, Delta State, Precious Iya, had a sad tale to narrate on the impact of the flood.
In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the woman lamented that her cassava farm, valued at over N5m, was washed away by the flood.
Iya stated, “We were evacuated to the IDPs’ camp last month when flood sacked my children and me from our homes. We never knew that this year’s flooding would be this serious.
“My cassava and fresh pepper farms were destroyed by the flood. My cassava farm is worth over N5m and now my family is left with nothing. We were expecting to harvest them by January but the flood has destroyed all that we have worked for.
“The painful thing is that we have no roof under which to lay our heads. We are not comfortable staying in this camp. I don’t even know what is left of our household items after the flood receded.”
Kogi farmers lost N200m in Ibaji, Koton-Karfe –Resident
A resident of Affa in the Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, Ben Umoche, said farmers, who cultivated farmlands in the riverside areas of state, lost everything they planted to the flood.
He said, “Worst hit areas include Ibaji and Koton-Karfe local government areas which were completely submerged.
“It would be extremely difficult for the farmers to cope in the weeks and months ahead because their only hope has been destroyed. The overall assessment carried out by all the affected farmers, shows that we lost over N200m.”
Another farmer, Paul Obonyo, who said he cultivated four hectares of rice plantation, lamented that he lost everything to the flood waters.
He said, “My entire rice farmland totaling four hectares was completely submerged and I have no hope of a good harvest this year.”
Similarly, a woman, Antonia Chibogwu, said her two hectares of cassava and beans farms were washed away.
She said, “My hope of any harvest this year is lost as the four hectares of cassava farm was completely destroyed by the flood.”
Other affected farmers like Peter Onuh, Adejoh Echa, Micheal Ara, Umoche Micheal, Grace Ajodo, Ida Eunice, Patricia Micheal, Bernard Otola, John Adoni, Ernest Eguma, and Inekwe Sunday, lamented their loss in separate interviews with SUNDAY PUNCH.
100,000 hectares of rice farms destroyed in Jigawa – RIFAN
The story is not different in Jigawa. The only difference is the dimension of havoc the rampaging flood unleashed on various communities.
The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Jigawa chapter, Adamu Maigoro, on Friday, said the recent flooding in the state destroyed over 100,000 hectares of rice farms.
Maigoro told the News Agency of Nigeria in Hadejia that over 10,000 registered members of the association were affected by the flood.
He said, “The 10,000 figures captured only the dry season rice farmers, who were supported with farm inputs earlier in the year.
“If you are asking about the entire rice farmers affected, the figure will definitely rise up to over 50,000 farmers.”
The chairman listed areas hit by the flood to include Ringim, Taura, Miga, Jahun, Auyo, Kaugama, Mallam-Madori, Hadejia, Guri, Kirikasamma, Gwaram, Buji, Birnin Kudu and Kazaure.
Calabar residents sacked from homes
The rains poured for many hours and the rage sent panic to Calabar residents who fled for safety. In minutes, the torrential rains flooded everywhere. Unknown to Mr Etim Charles, while other residents had respite when the rains eventually abated, his 11-year-old son, Victor, was trapped in the rage. Unfortunately, the youngster didn’t get out of it alive.
Charles was still immersed in the agony of losing his son when our correspondent approached him. He recalled with palpable sadness that the flood killed his son.
He lamented that when his son left for school that day, he was oblivious that he would not return alive.
He said, “Sometimes, I still find it difficult to believe that the one who calls me father is gone. I was not around when the incident happened. I was called on the phone on October 9 that my son was missing. I rushed to the house hoping that we would find him but unfortunately, it was his corpse that we found.
“I was told that after a downpour, the whole area was flooded and it was then that they were on their way home. By the time they got to Mayne Avenue, there was a slab on the big gutter. My son was trying to cross the slab when he fell into a gutter and the flood took him into a big water channel at Atakpa.
“The big channel usually overflows anytime the rain is heavy and due to the huge refuse people pour into the gutter; one can hardly see the drainage channel.”
Charles, who managed to speak, said Victor, who was his only child, was a very loving child who he would miss sorely.
He said, “My boy was a very intelligent, loving and wonderful child. He was my joy. He showed maturity in handling issues despite his age. We miss him so much
“We hope that the government will do something about that drainage. Despite the fact that they heard of the incident, no government official came to my house to see how we were doing after the whole sad case.”
‘We’ve become destitute in our own lands’
Fifty-year-old Ebi Ombu, who spoke angrily, said several residents in his community, had become homeless in their lands.
Ombu, a resident in the Kumbia area of Bayelsa State, visibly expressed annoyance at the plight of those affected by flooding without help from anywhere.
He told SUNDAY PUNCH that as a civil servant, what mattered to him at the moment was how to feed himself and his family members. He added that for two weeks he was going to the office from his friend’s house.
“Before now, I lived at the Kumbia area until the flood came and overcame our house and we had to vacate the place. I am a 50-year-old civil servant and have an 11-year-old daughter and a seven-month-old baby,” he said.
Ombu, who appeared worried with the state of things, said he took his first child to his mother in the village while the rest of the family had to look for a place to stay because of flooding that took over his town.
He stated, “My family is scattered over the place. My 11-year-old girl is with my mother in the village while my wife and baby stay in a church member’s place. I now squat with a friend.
“For two weeks now, I have been living with a friend and see my wife once in a while where she stays. We are tired of suffering. Flood has temporarily separated my family and me.
“It took over our houses and rendered us homeless. I go to the office from my friend’s house and return there in the evening. My salary is not enough for me to feed; I can’t afford to rent an apartment. It is a serious emotional trauma for me not having my family in one place. I really miss having my family together.”
Like the Ombus, Mr Marshal Obeve is another victim of the flood that sacked many from their homes in the Asukoro area of Bayelsa.
Obeve, who said he was hopeful that the flood would not take over his house since it had a firm foundation, was taken by surprise when it affected the facility.
Sounding confused about the whole situation, he said for about seven days, he had to sleep in his office and this had affected his health.
He lamented that he had to join two seats together in order to, at least, pass the night conveniently.
He told our correspondent, “My story is an interesting one. I am a landlord but all of a sudden, I have become homeless because of flood.
“I live at Asukoro town. People have been having flood issues but I was thinking that it wouldn’t get to my house because mine is far away and higher than the flooded areas.
“I have an in-law who stays on the same street with me. Whenever I tell him, he would assure me not to worry that it wouldn’t get to our side and that we are safe. The truth is that our foundation is high and we didn’t expect anything like flood.
“As it rained, the water kept gathering but we didn’t expect that it would spill over to our area. At a point in time, we were deceived because the water receded drastically. When we saw that, we were a bit more comfortable.”
Obeve noted that as they heaved a sigh of relief that normalcy had returned, a heavy rain started, leading to a serious flood which submerged the community.
He added, “Unfortunately, it rained for about seven hours on a Saturday. Then unfortunately, when I was going to church, I didn’t notice anything except that the water was full and almost reached my knees. Then I heard the heavy sound of water pouring. I quickly went to my brother-in-law’s house and told him that he should pack because water was close to his place.
“We packed what we could and entered the house to sleep. Before we knew what was happening, there was another heavy rain and he called me that water had entered my house too. I had to pick a bag where my clothes and other things I needed were and moved to the office. I have been living in the office since then.”
According to him, since October 10, he had moved from his house to sleep in the office, adding that he usually woke up early to take his bath and dress up before the arrival of the workers.
He added, “Anyone who sees me will discover that I am not well rested. Sometimes, I sleep or doze off during work hours. The inconvenience was too much. It was when my wife came for her grandmother’s burial that she persuaded me to come with them to Benin because she and our son temporarily stay there. It would have been a hard one for me if they have nowhere to stay.
“For now, I will be in Benin till the water goes down. My employees are working and I am also doing much on my phone and laptop from Benin. Before I left home, there was no water to drink because our pumping machines have become faulty.”
Obeve said one scary thing that made him to vacate the area was the discovery of snakes in the water, adding that at least, two were killed before he left the place.
He stated, “The water chased the snakes from their holes and I guess while looking for an abode, they moved to the flooded houses.”
Lagos residents not excluded
Residents of the Agiliti and Ajegunle areas of Lagos have their own share of the ravaging flood.
Some of the residents of the area affected by flood had gone to stay with their relatives while others decided to survive amid their predicament.
Those new to the development lamented that they didn’t vacate the area because they had nowhere to go.
Many of those with shops and kiosks within the affected community could no longer display their wares as there was no space to stand to operate, except on water. The shops and kiosks had been submerged in water.
One of them, Mrs. Biola Adebayo, who sold provisions in a retail shop, lamented her loss as most of her goods had been destroyed by flood.
Adebayo said she managed to put some of the things on shelves and tables in the shop but they couldn’t save all the perishable goods.
The mother of two told our correspondent that she and her children had not been living well since the flood affected her shop.
She stated, “The shop was the major source of livelihood. I sell rice, garri, eggs, vegetable oil, biscuits and some other things. But when the flood came, it took over my shop and spoilt many of the things in it.
“As there is no money, my children and I haven’t been feeding well. We can’t even open the shop to pick things because the whole place has been taken over by flood,” she added.
As if she was unaware that the area was prone to flooding, she said it first started as a heavy rain before it snowballed into a ravenous flood.
She said, “We are also not happy with the way water has been disturbing us. We wish we had a choice but we are stuck here because of money. We don’t have money for accommodation elsewhere.
“I don’t have any relatives that I can stay with in Lagos. Some of my neighbours went to live with their friends and family members but I don’t have anyone to stay with.”
Also, a pepper seller, identified simply as Iya Rotimi, told SUNDAY PUNCH that she had become unemployed for the season since she couldn’t continue with trading. She complained that her business had come to a halt as there was no place to display her goods.
She said, “I cannot display the pepper but because of the water. I have to look for another place to display it. We are stranded. We go out only on canoes. To even get goods, I have to take a canoe to move to another part of the area which was not affected by the flood.”
The same problem confronting Iya Rotimi is what a carpenter, identified only as Mr Adio, is battling with. Adio, who operated a shop along the popular Ikorodu Road, told SUNDAY PUNCH that heavy rains soaked his shop and affected his business.
He said, “I have been living in this area for long. The carpentry business I do is what I know all my life. In fact, I did apprenticeship in the community. The flood comes at a particular time in the year and once it comes, we are in for it.
“It is worse when water from the dam (Oyan) is released. Although we usually have something that we mount like a bridge whenever water takes over the community, the water is higher than it used to be. I am currently in debt because of the many customers’ jobs which have been damaged by water.
“I don’t know what to do now. Although I have been going to some of my colleagues’ shops to clean up some unfinished works with me, it is not the same as being in my own shop. Also, that temporary measure hasn’t changed the fact that some of my goods have been destroyed.”
We can only provide relief materials –NEMA
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for NEMA, Mr Ezekiel Manzo, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the agency was trying its best to alleviate the pains of the flood victims by providing them with necessary relief materials.
He said, “I am currently in Bayelsa as we speak to monitor the issue. As soon as the flood began, NEMA set up emergency operations centre and deployed its officers to coordinate response in the IDPs and to those affected by flooding.
“Our officers are still at work. That is why I am in Bayelsa and I understand that food is being distributed to the people. I am satisfied that one of the materials is food because that it one of the major things that they need.”
Manzo stated that the Federal Government planned a lasting solution to the problems facing the flood victims, adding that the agency would temporarily continue to bring succour to the people.
He added, “Another thing is that the Federal Government’s plan to alleviate the pains of the people is a long-term plan. It is a continuous plan. Most of these people cannot go back to their homes; some are living in IDP camps, and others are staying with their relatives. We need to come to the rescue of these people.
“As soon as the water recedes, the government has a plan to support them. I believe that you are aware that the vice president has been visiting different IDP camps to commiserate with the people.”
Additional reports by TED ODOGWU, THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN and GBENGA ODOGUN with agency reports.
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