BENIN CITY- The House of Representatives yesterday directed the national emergency management agency, NEMA, a federal government agency to provide relief materials to victims of the recent flooding in Estakor federal constituency of Edo state.
In a motion sponsored by Honorable Johnson Oghuma, APC Edo State, and overwhelmingly supported by the lawmakers, the members expressed sadness over the death of three persons following the devastating effects of the ongoing flood which overran the banks of the River Niger and affected communities in Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas of Edo state.
Debating the motion, Honorable Oghuma said the floods have overran over 16 communities which are along the River Niger axis, killing three persons and rendering the people homeless.
He stated that as an agrarian community, farmlands have not only been destroyed but that homes as well as fishing equipments which are the source of livelihood of the people were equally submerged by the flood..
He further lamented that the people have become refugees in their own area owing to the non completion of an Internally Displaced Persons camp, located at Oghomere in Ekperi, Etsako central local government area, initially designed for such emergencies and purposes by the federal government and consequently charged the Ministry of power, Works, Housing to intervene by completing the IDP camp which has since been abandoned.
