Flood kills 24, affect properties worth N22bn in Bauchi

The Bauchi state government, through the Executive Council, had disclosed that 24 persons had been killed by the flood, which affected several communities and 16 local government areas of the state. It was also disclosed that an estimated N22bn worth of properties have been destroyed.

The details were made public on Monday by the commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Wanka while speaking to journalists after the state council’s meeting.

It was disclosed that the government had constituted an inter-ministerial committee to assess the damages caused by the devastating natural disaster.

The commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management disclosed that though the ministry was still compiling the list of the affected communities and persons, the earlier report has shown that twenty-four persons had lost their lives, 63 were injured, 16 local Government areas were affected, 60 culverts washed away, 12 major roads were cut off, 178 electric poles were destroyed, 11,183 livestock and 122,330 households were affected and,52,000 houses were destroyed.

The Commissioner explained that the government had not opened any internally displaced persons camp in the state, noting that the affected persons initially took refuge in primary school and after a stay for a few weeks, reunited with their relatives in the towns,

The commissioner noted that the government had approved the release of funds, which will be used for the rehabilitation of culverts, access roads, schools, and public buildings that were affected by the intensive rainfall.

Speaking on the formation of the inter-ministerial committee, the commissioner noted that the federal government directed the state government to establish it to ascertain the level of destruction that has occurred in the states affected by the flood disaster.

She disclosed that the committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Aminu Hammayo, and will comprise relevant commissioners as members, with the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, monitoring its activities.