The Bauchi State Government has confirmed that 24 people have died as a result of the ongoing flood disaster affecting 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) since the beginning of the rainy season.
This confirmation came from the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka, during a press briefing after an extraordinary State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Monday at the Governor’s Office.
According to Wanka, the floods have injured 163 people and displaced 122,330 households. Infrastructure has been severely impacted, with 12 major roads in the northern part of the state cut off and 60 culverts washed away. Additionally, 52,005 homes have been completely destroyed, and 173 electricity poles have collapsed.
The floods have also devastated farmlands and wiped out 11,000 domestic animals, leaving thousands of people homeless and dependent on neighbors who were less affected by the disaster.
Wanka noted that the Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Education to assess the damage to educational institutions and to develop strategies for recovery.
Governor Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has established a high-powered committee led by Aminu Hammayo, the Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination, to evaluate the damage and recommend relief measures, in accordance with Federal Government guidelines for states impacted by flooding.
The Commissioner also revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has conducted an extensive assessment to mitigate the effects of the flooding, which was predicted by NiMet warnings.
“Despite the continuous rainfall, the flooding persists, and so far, Bauchi State has incurred losses totaling N22.319 billion,” Wanka disclosed.
