Kogi Dep. Gov. urges people in flood-prone areas to be vigilant

Kogi Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has urged the people living along flood-prone areas of the state to remain vigilant at all times.

This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Micheal Abu, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday.

“From the historical markings the state is not yet at the critical mark.

“People living around coastal areas should remain calm and vigilant,” the statement quoted Awoniyi as saying.

The deputy governor urged the people not to panic as adequate measures had been taken to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Awoniyi, who recently visited the bank of River Niger to monitor historical markings, explained that the tour was geared towards enabling the government to plan ahead of the predicted flood by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

He said the government would be alerted with a view to communicating early to citizens of the anticipated flood areas, as soon as it received signals that the water was approaching an alarming mark.

Awoniyi, who also doubles as the Chairman, Flood Management Committee, said there was still a big gap between the margin when the 2012 flood occurred and the present water level.

The deputy governor stated that the ongoing construction of drains in Lokoja and clearing of blocked drains were proactive measures by the government to check flooding.