By Gift Chapi Odekina
Kebbi State Caucus in the House of Representatives on Wednesday revealed that the state has so far lost the sum of 10billion naira to the recent flood which occurred in the state.
The caucus also appealed to the federal government for urgent support for victims of the recent mass flooding in the north western state.
The Chairman of the group, Rep Muhammad Jega at a media briefing in Abuja, said cost effect of the flooding which swept farmlands, houses and school buildings amongst others away, has been estimated at about N10 billion naira.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari, and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu for swiftly responding to ameliorate the plight of the people, the group expressed worries over the disaster that ravaged the entire state, which it described as “the focal point of the Federal Government’s policy on rice production in the country”.
The lawmakers said the flood was a serious setback towards addressing food security in the country, urging he government to intervene in the food supply chain, and also to reduce the severe environmental degradation caused by the flood.
The caucus recommended some required measures to include adequate and early preparation for dry season farming and reconstruction of major infrastructures affected by the flooding.
Fielding questions, a member of the caucus, and chairman of the House committee on the Airforce, Hon. Shehu Koko said they were united in the call for support, as to him, “this year’s flood was different, and so there is need for the federal government to find out, what went wrong, if it is as a result of climate change, what is needed to be done”.
