Nasarawa Government Plans Relocation for Flood Victims

The Nasarawa State Government has announced plans to relocate flood-prone riverine communities to higher ground after recent flooding in Doma Local Government Area resulted in two fatalities and the displacement of over 4,000 individuals across 11 communities. Many victims are currently in neighboring upland settlements without sufficient food, clean water, or medical supplies.

The director-general of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, Barrister Ben Akwash, stated that safer settlements would be established, starting with Umasha in Toto Local Government Area, and construction is expected to begin after the rainy season. Victims, including 60-year-old widow Mrs Emun Agaba Enah, have reported significant losses, including livestock and farmlands.

Lawmaker Musa Ibrahim Abubakar has called for immediate relief, warning of potential health crises due to shortages of clean water and food. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has attributed the flooding to intense rainfall and poor drainage, dismissing claims that it was caused by water released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.