Things have really turned awry for the residents of Lokoja, Kogi State capital, all due to the global climate change phenomenon and recalcitrant Nigerian government which refused to do a dam on the upper Benue River axis to contain flood water from Ladgo Dam when water is released from it yearly.
The duel negative effects of the two variables above had announced its destructive impact in the state since 2012, hitting Lokoja residents hard with unparalleled flood water.
Ten years on, the lethal River Niger flood water is back, wreaking even greater havoc on the residents of the capital city with great intensity, up to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where fuel supply had been cut off.
A staff of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), David Aigbe, who was on duty along the Ganaja-Lokoja highway where flood water has effectively cut off the state from the eastern flank, said the level of water flood at its peak in 2012 was by far below the level recorded on September 30, 2022.
“In 2012, the River Niger attained the peak of 4.84m before it receded. But as at Friday, September 30, 2022, the level of water flood had shot up to 4.94m. We should prepare for the worst; no sign that this water will recede in the next one or two weeks,” he said.
As at Wednesday, October 5, greater parts of Adankolo, Gadumo, Ganaja, Ikpata and Kabawa, including Sariki-Numa communities in Lokoja metropolis had gone under the flood.
Locals said the flood water at Ganaja-Lokoja, Gadumo and Andakolo extension in Lokoja was life-threatening due to the fact that the areas are situated directly at the confluence point of River Niger and River Benue.
Jubril Adebayo, a resident of Gadumo, said the turbulence of the rivers Niger and Benue meeting point increases the water current at that zone
The same fear is being entertained by the residents of Kabawa as the water has started surging up towards highlands in the areas.
Consequently, thousands of residential houses, business centres or shops, and offices have been submerged and valuable property of the residents destroyed.
As at last count, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, including a branch of Living Faith Church at the 200 housing unit and most structures, including plants in that area around the Meme river bridge along Lokoja-Ajaokuta road were submerged completely.
Also, Kogi State House of Assembly quarters in Gadumo-Lokoja on the same route were flooded, forcing the lawmakers to relocate to a safer place in the city.
