A Nigerian journalist, Oseni Rufai, has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency due to the recent flooding that has killed many and ravaged most states in Nigeria.
From his Twitter handle, the journalist opined that the ongoing presidential campaign should be put on a temporary halt to tackle the natural disaster.
Speaking on the devastation caused by the flood, Oseni alleged that dead bodies are floating on the streets of Bayelsa and Delta State due to the effect of the flood on cemeteries.
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He said that what the country currently needs is leadership and help.
His tweet reads, “I think a state of emergency on the floods should be declared and campaigns should cease! A sizable part of the country is flooded, cemeteries were flooded and buried corpses floating on the streets in Bayelsa and Delta. This is a disaster, we need leadership and help!”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said about 2,504,095 persons are affected by the worst natural disaster that ravaged the country in several years.
Buhari condoles Bayelsa
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness at the devastation caused by recent floods that ravaged Bayelsa State.
According to report by the Bayelsa State government, 700,000 persons have been displaced in about 300 communities and villages in five of the State’s eight local government areas that were submerged in water due to rains causing the floods.
The president in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, extended the nation’s condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by this natural disaster.
While the authorities in the state are taking steps to help people hit by the floods, the president has directed that all federal agencies dealing with rescue and disaster management offer all needed assistance to Bayelsa.
Buhari blamed buildings on water channels, disregard for early warning by the NEMA and the changes to weather caused by climate change as chiefly to blame for the floods that have so far hit 33 of the nation’s 36 states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory which has not been spared either.
…Corpses float on Bayelsa water
Residents of Aeroplane Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta have raised the alarm over floating corpses from submerged cemeteries in their environment.
This comes as flood ravages most parts of the country. The Federal government has said that over 603 persons have died, two million persons displaced and hundreds of hectares of farmlands have been destroyed, since the flooding incident began.
Residents of Yenagoa in Bayelsa state on Monday raised the alarm when they spotted the floating corpses. They called on the state government for immediate action to avoid a public health crisis.
A resident of the community, Mr Emmanuel Oden, lamented that the floating corpses had become a recurring development during floods, adding that relocation of the cemetery is long overdue.
Oden further alleged that corpses at the cemetery were often buried in shallow graves of about 3 feet, rather than the recommended six feet prescribed by law.
The morgue at Bomadi General Hospital and Olodiama had been submerged, also with floating corpses as a result.
Reacting to this development, the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Environment and chairman of Bayelsa Flood Committee, Iselema Gbaranbiri, confirmed that three floating corpses were recovered and reburied with the environment properly fumigated.
”The floating of corpses was actually reported. First, as commissioner for the environment, I got the report of a floating corpse and directed my head of health and sanitation to get the corpse reburied. Later two more corpses were recovered and reburied and the environment was properly fumigated.”
More disaster was recorded in parts of Delta State Monday as many villages in riverine Bomadi, Patani and Burutu local government areas of the state were sacked by floods as their homes have been submerged by the flood.
Speaking on the unfortunate incident, the chairman of the Bomadi federated community, Seleyeibo Perekeme, said neither government nor political leaders from the area had responded to their call for help.
“The entire Bomadi Local Government Area is submerged, with only the council secretariat still standing because of community efforts.
‘‘We’ve been able to dislodge the flood by blocking entry points with sand-filled sacks at the community waterfront through our earlier efforts. Now, the flood level has risen and we’ve been making similar efforts but we’ve run out of resources as a community.
‘‘So, we’ve been calling on our political leaders to help since Bomadi is the last community standing and victims are fleeing in from neighbouring communities, such as Kpakiama, Oboro, Esanma, Tuomo, Tubegbe, Koloware, Ogboin-ama and many others in both Burutu and Patani council areas. Many victims are fleeing from Yenagoa to Bomadi.”
Obi reacts to flooding
Peter OIbi, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party said ”The devastating enormity of the 2022 flooding and the damages it has wreaked on several states, namely, Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa and Nasarawa, is mind boggling. So far, over 600 lives were reportedly lost, and over 2 million people displaced.
”I sympathize with those directly affected by the loss of lives and properties. At a time our country contends with rising food insecurity due to banditry and insurgency, the ravaging floods will have deleterious consequences on food production, as well as orchestrate higher food prices. I call on FGN and NEMA to expeditiously assist those affected by this natural disaster.”
