Jigawa Worst Affected By Flooding, Bayelsa Not Among Top Ten – FG

The Federal Government has revealed that Jigawa State is worst hit in terms of the number of deaths recorded during the flooding disaster across the country, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk said on Thursday.

She made the revelation while featuring in the Ministerial Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister, who mourned the victims, said Bayelsa is not among the first 10 states with the highest number of deaths in the country, contrary to perception in some quarters.

According to official statistics made available from the Ministry, number of deaths recorded per state, number of people displaced, number of injuries, houses damaged, farm lands per hectares damaged as well as general population affected were some of the criteria used in assessing the states most affected.

In the 2022 flood data as at 24th October, provided by the ministry, death toll in Jigawa stood at 91, Anambra 77 while in Kogi 471,991 persons were affected with zero death.

In all, 3,219,780 Nigerians were affected nationwide, while number of displaced persons stood at 1,427,370 persons and total deaths placed at 612.

Asked about the kind of assistance the federal government would give Bayelsa State after former President Goodluck Jonathan had discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the minister said her Ministry had intervened by taking relief materials to Bayelsa in collaboration with officials of the Nigerian Air Force.

On the assertion of the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, that she was not being humane in handling the prevailing humanitarian crisis, Hajiya Sadiya said this is untrue.

She said flood disaster was a national issue, adding her ministry is carrying out its duty to the best of its ability.

“Bayelsa is not among the ten most worst hit states, Jigawa is,” the minister said in her ranking of the states worst hit by flooding.

Merely looking at me, you know that I am humane,” she said

The minister also announced an ongoing assessment of farmlands damaged with a view to compensating the farmers.

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