Niger State Government Relocates 40 Communities Over Flood

Following predictions of a possible heavy rainfall and anticipated flood, some local government councils in Niger State have begun relocating communities from flood-prone areas to avoid the experience of last year where over 1000 communities and goods worth billions of Naira were washed away by flood.

One of the local government councils that have embarked on the relocation project is Gbako Local Government Area, which has relocated persons from over 40 communities and villages.  

The council secretary, Husseini Aliyu, who disclosed this to newsmen during projects inspection of the council in the state said more communities would be relocated before the rains began properly.

Aliyu said that the relocation of the communities would be temporary as most of the persons who have been relocated do not want to abandon their ancestral homes for other permanent places.

He said that among the 40 communities, about two have applied for permanent relocation, adding that the council was working on such applications with a view to providing safe place to enhance development.

The council boss stated that over 45 per cent landmass of the council was prone to flooding because of the topography of most of the communities, and appealed to the state emergency management agency to take proactive measures to minimise risks in the area.

While regretting the hardship experienced in the last year’s flood disaster, the council boss pleaded with the communities to stay away from disaster-prone areas to save lives and property.

Aliyu also called on the state government to prevail on the contractor handling a 10km road project in the council to come on site, explaining that the contractor has abandoned the project after collecting mobilisation fees.