Nigerian's Vice President who was in company of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Chris Ngige and other top government officials, disclosed that twelves states are currently under water as a result of the flood, adding that four of the states including Delta and Anambra have been declared national disaster by the Federal Government.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday visited flood ravaged communities in Delta state to inspect level of damage caused by the flood. Mr.Osinbajo however expressed deep sympathy with victims who were rendered homeless by the flood.
Nigerian's Vice President who was in company of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Chris Ngige and other top government officials, disclosed that twelves states are currently under water as a result of the flood, adding that four of the states including Delta and Anambra have been declared national disaster by the Federal Government.
Speaking at one of the holding camps set up by the Delta state government for the displaced persons at the Ogbe-Afor Primary School, Asaba, Oshimili South local government area of the state, Mr. Osinbajo said, "I am very touched seeing these persons who are affected by flood, I know how disruptive it is for those who are affected. I thank the Governor of Delta State for setting up this holding camp, the facilities are adequate.
According to the Vice President, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will in the next 24 hours send relief materials to the state, disclosing that following the effect of the flood, the Federal Government has designated Delta State as National Disaster Zone with three other states of the country.
Osinbajo assured the over 700 flood victims that Federal Government will not only contribute to ensure the welfare of the flood victims while they are at the holding camps but, will work to properly resettle them in their communities after the flood must have receded.
"The Federal Government will be working with the state government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that victims whose farmlands and other properties are submerged are paid adequate compensation to cushion the impact of the devastation and ensure that people resume normal life as soon as the flood recedes. We stand with you to make sure that we are able to bring comfort to the victims." Osinbajo stated.
The Vice President who described flooding as ecological challenge which in most cases, cannot be prevented, stated that "A lot of the flooding is ecological problem, some of them you may not be able to prevent, and that is what you see practically in every part of the world. We have seen a lot of what the state government has done, a lot of canals have been built. So there are very many steps that have been taken but very frequently you find that sometimes the levels are unprecedented."
In his brief speech earlier, Delta state Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa who accompanied the Vice President on visits to the impacted communities at the holding camps, thanked the Federal Government for their speedy response to the flood situation, observing that the state was bracing up for more impact of the flood as water in the affected states would pass through Delta State to empty into the Atlantic Ocean.
Governor Okowa thanked the displaced persons for embracing government programmes aimed at evacuating them to safety, stating, that "though, we are aware that property, farm produce have been destroyed, our major concern is to save life, we are aware that the coming days may be more challenging as the flood is expected to rise, but, our people are prepared to ensure that Deltans are not left at the impacted communities."
Among the camps established for the flood victims by the state government include, Ewulu Grammar School, Ewulu in Aniocha South; Utagba-Ogbe Technical College Kwale in Ndokwa West; Emede Grammar School Emede in Isoko South; Omorka Primary School, Illah in Oshimili North; and Alaka Grammar School, Ozoro in Isoko North among others.