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| Mr Uji’s backyard garden |
Flood wreaks havoc in
Nasarawa community, submerges Blueprint reporter’s house, others
Nasarawa community, submerges Blueprint reporter’s house, others
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
First rainy season’s
flooding in Nasarawa, Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa state where
Nasarawa Federal Polytechnic is located has displaced many homes, includung
that of a Blueprint reporter, Mr Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu.
flooding in Nasarawa, Nasarawa local government area of Nasarawa state where
Nasarawa Federal Polytechnic is located has displaced many homes, includung
that of a Blueprint reporter, Mr Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu.
Mr Uji who lives in
Oversea River Bank and his neighbours woke up from sleep at dawn to prepare for
fasting only to find that their houses had been covered by the flood.
Oversea River Bank and his neighbours woke up from sleep at dawn to prepare for
fasting only to find that their houses had been covered by the flood.
His family and
neighbours have since started evacuating their valuables from their homes.
neighbours have since started evacuating their valuables from their homes.
The residents of Oversea,
a riverine area bordering the Rver
Nasarawa and close to Nasarawa Water Board were stunned by the level of
destruction done by the flood. Orchards, gardens, moulded blocks procured
by prospective builders and hips of sands
assembled by jobless youths to sell to builders were all washed away.
But no life was lost.
a riverine area bordering the Rver
Nasarawa and close to Nasarawa Water Board were stunned by the level of
destruction done by the flood. Orchards, gardens, moulded blocks procured
by prospective builders and hips of sands
assembled by jobless youths to sell to builders were all washed away.
But no life was lost.
A resident Malam
Mainasara, whose house was most affected, said the flood was abnormal because
the residents were expecting the rise in water level by September,
Mainasara, whose house was most affected, said the flood was abnormal because
the residents were expecting the rise in water level by September,
If the flood can come
as early as May then we are in for a turbulent time with the flood this year.
as early as May then we are in for a turbulent time with the flood this year.
I had prepared for the
flood which peaks annually in September or October each year, but as if someone
had leaked my plan, it came unexpected today and displaced me.
flood which peaks annually in September or October each year, but as if someone
had leaked my plan, it came unexpected today and displaced me.
My mattresses and
personal belongings had been soaked. Please, you are a media man tell
government to come to our aid.
personal belongings had been soaked. Please, you are a media man tell
government to come to our aid.
Mama Sadiya who was
deep in the crisis, said “Now I have nowhere to take my property and
children to. My property as you can see, are outside. Who will accommodate me
now in this hard time? We are waiting
for the water to go down but it will take two weeks or more for our rooms to be
habitable again.
deep in the crisis, said “Now I have nowhere to take my property and
children to. My property as you can see, are outside. Who will accommodate me
now in this hard time? We are waiting
for the water to go down but it will take two weeks or more for our rooms to be
habitable again.
Another resident, Malam
Ibrahim said he thanked God he had prepared for the flood.
Ibrahim said he thanked God he had prepared for the flood.
Last year’s experience
had taught me a lesson so I had prepared for it. I have raised my fence and
closed all holes in them to check the flood. Although it entred my compound
from undergound, it did not enter our bedrooms like what happened last year, even though this is more
forecefull than last year’s.”
had taught me a lesson so I had prepared for it. I have raised my fence and
closed all holes in them to check the flood. Although it entred my compound
from undergound, it did not enter our bedrooms like what happened last year, even though this is more
forecefull than last year’s.”
River Nasarawa, which
residents say originates in Kaduna passes through Uke-Zimbawe near Abuja before
flowing to Nasarawa LGA.
residents say originates in Kaduna passes through Uke-Zimbawe near Abuja before
flowing to Nasarawa LGA.
The residents are
calling on the Nasarawa State Government and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs, Disaster Managent and Social Development to come to their aid by
building a dike to check the annual flood and losses.
calling on the Nasarawa State Government and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs, Disaster Managent and Social Development to come to their aid by
building a dike to check the annual flood and losses.