Executive Director, ED, of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, Dr Patrick Adebola has described the rampaging flood in Kogi and other states as depressing. He sympathised with the victims condemning the attendant loss of lives as avoidable.
Adebola who made the observation in a press statement on Monday, noted that it was particularly sad that the flood coincided with the 62 anniversary of Nigeria as an independent nation. He added that the tragic waters cast a shadow on the independence festivities.
Houses have been submerged with farmlands and valuable crops washed away by the flood in Nine Local Government Areas of Kogi State, famed as the Confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue. States like Jigawa, Benue, Niger, Delta, Imo and Anambra have also been affected by the rampaging waters, believed to be from heavy rainfall and the opened valves of the Lagdon water reservoir in Cameroon.
The Kogi State born plant scientist called on people occupying the flood plains of Rivers Niger and Benue, governments at all levels and other stakeholders to show better discretion in safety and environmental issues.
He said as a stakeholder in the agriculture subsector of the economy, he is “worried about the spiral effects of the flood on food production in an economy that is already afflicted by other factors.”
“The cumulative effects of this flood is massive. My heart goes out to victims, the dead and those still dieing by instalments, after losing their properties, means of livelihood and loved ones. I recommend it is time we declare a state of emergency on floods by taking more seriously weather forecasts and suggestions by experts.” Adebola advised.
