The Northern Senators Forum has called for a coordinated and lasting response to the recurring flooding affecting communities across Niger State, saying emergency relief alone cannot prevent repeated loss of lives and property.
The senators made the call after recent flooding in Minna, Chanchaga, Bosso and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state. Punch Newspaper reports that the lawmakers urged the Federal and Niger State governments to develop a comprehensive master plan to address the recurring disaster.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, expressed sympathy with families affected by the floods, particularly those who lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses and other sources of livelihood.
While acknowledging the efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency in assessing the damage, the senators said more needed to be done to prevent the disaster from becoming an annual occurrence.
The lawmakers called for immediate distribution of relief materials to verified victims and the provision of temporary shelters equipped with basic healthcare and sanitation facilities.
However, they stressed that such interventions should complement, rather than replace, long-term flood prevention measures.
The senators urged the Federal and state governments to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to develop measures capable of protecting vulnerable communities and reducing the impact of future flooding.
The forum said the recurring nature of flooding in Shiroro and other riverine communities made it necessary for authorities to move beyond emergency responses and invest in sustainable solutions.
The call comes as affected residents continue to deal with the consequences of the latest flooding, including displacement and damage to homes, farms and businesses.
