Lokoja—According to Mouktar Atima, Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), floods have entirely submerged Ibaji Local Government Area, prompting urgent calls for communities along riverbanks to relocate to safer areas immediately.
During an advocacy visit to the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adams Abdullazeez, Atima warned that rising water levels in the Rivers Niger and Benue threaten the state’s safety. He noted that, based on expert projections and dam management data, excessive water is expected to overflow the rivers starting Tuesday night, leading to severe flooding.
Atima revealed that 258 communities across eight local government areas are at high risk of flooding, with 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps established to accommodate those affected. An emergency operations center has also been activated. The hardest-hit areas include five communities in Ibaji—Ota, Ofogbo, Itima, and Owara—along with parts of Kogi Local Government Area.
Atima emphasized the critical role of the state Ministry of Health in disaster management, warning that the state faces a challenging period within the next 72 hours. He praised the Health Commissioner for proactive measures that contributed to zero casualties during last year’s floods.
In response, Dr. Abdullazeez affirmed the ministry’s readiness to address flood-related challenges, highlighting its role in human services beyond healthcare. The ministry has begun fumigating all 42 IDP camps and mobilized personnel and resources to support flood victims. Abdullazeez noted preparedness for potential disease outbreaks in the camps and commended Governor Usman Ododo for his swift interventions, which prevented loss of life in the previous year’s flooding.
