2025 FLOODING: KOGI GOVERNMENT CALLS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INTERNATIONAL BODIES TO GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO KOGI
The Kogi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has called on the Federal Government as well as national and international agencies supporting disaster victims to pay greater attention to Kogi State, which remains highly prone to flooding as the confluence of Nigeria’s two major rivers, the River Niger and River Benue.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, made the call on Wednesday in Lokoja while receiving the management team of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) in his office.
“Nigeria should begin to take Kogi very seriously. This is the state where the Rivers Niger and Benue meet. But when it comes to the issue of flooding, we have observed that states through which these rivers flow are often given more attention than Kogi. For us as a government, under the administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, we want Federal agencies and international organizations to pay more attention to Kogi State,” Fanwo stated.
The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the present administration to the well-being of the people, while stressing that the state government alone cannot meet the enormous needs of victims devastated by recurring floods. He therefore called on relevant agencies and partners to come to the rescue of affected communities.
He noted that the entire Ibaji Local Government Area had already been submerged, stressing that Ibaji is a major hub for rice production in Nigeria. “When communities like Ibaji are subjected to this kind of disaster, it affects not only their livelihoods but also the nation’s food security,” he added.
According to him, “We are at the center of the nation. If Kogi is cut off, the entire country feels the impact of flooding here. That is why we are calling on all our national and international partners to see the urgency of the situation and declare a state of emergency. Humanitarian support must begin to move immediately to the affected areas.”
Hon. Fanwo further assured KOSEMA of the Ministry’s maximum collaboration in sensitizing citizens on prioritizing safety and compliance with emergency guidelines.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of KOSEMA, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, who led the management and disaster response team on the visit, sought the Ministry’s collaboration in reducing losses to the barest minimum this year.
Atimah commended Governor Ododo for his quick response and commitment to providing shelter and relief materials to the affected victims. He recalled that in the previous year, the state recorded over 76,000 people in IDP camps but thankfully no lives were lost.
He emphasized that the State Response and Preparedness Team has already activated 42 IDP camps across the state to accommodate current and potential victims, adding that parts of Kogi, Lokoja, and Ibaji LGAs are already affected by flooding.
In his opening remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Agada Eleojo, commended KOSEMA and the State Response Team for their proactive efforts in reducing the impact of flooding. He assured the agency of the maximum support of the Hon. Commissioner and the entire Ministry.
Adegboyega Segun,
Information Officer
Ministry of Information and Communications
