By Jennifer Amarachi
The Bauchi State Executive Council has announced that the state’s 16 local government districts have experienced ongoing flooding, resulting in the destruction of property valued at approximately N22 billion and the deaths of 24 individuals.
This was announced by the council, which also said that an interministerial committee has been formed to evaluate the damages brought about by the terrible natural calamity.
After the council meeting, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Hajara Wanka spoke with reporters.
She revealed that the ministry is still gathering information for its report.
According to her, 24 people had died, 163 injured, 16 local government areas affected, 60 culverts had washed away, while 12 major roads had been closed.
She added that 178 electric poles had been destroyed, 11,183 livestock, and 122,330 people affected, households affected while 52,000 houses were destroyed.
“The victims were housed in elementary schools following the incident, and they later reunited with their family in the town; no Internally Displaced Persons camp was established.”
Wanka further stated that the release of funding for the reconstruction of damaged public buildings, schools, culverts, and access roads has been approved by the council.
She insisted that the Federal Government had instructed the committee to be formed in order to determine the extent of the catastrophe, which had impacted numerous federation states.
“Ibrahim Kashim, the secretary to the state government, will oversee the committee’s operations, and Aminu Hammayo, the commissioner for budget and economic planning, will serve as its chair,” she said.
Dallami Kawule, the state’s commissioner for housing and the environment, declared that he had ordered his ministry to take strict measures against buildings erected on waterways.
He stated that the action was taken to avert such flood disasters since studies showed that obstruction of waterways made the issue worse.
“The Ministry of Education has secured approval for the renovation and remodelling of the state Education Resource Center, which will be merged with the newly commissioned Zainab Bulkachuwa ICT Center to form a world-class learning center to boost education and learning in the state,” Commissioner of Education, Jamila Ahiru stated in his remarks.
