The Senate has urged the National Emergency Management Agency to, as a matter of urgent priority, provide relief materials to the victims of flood in five LGAs in Adamawa.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion moved by Amos Yohanna (PDP- Adamawa) during plenary on Tuesday.

The motion was titled ‘Urgent Need for Intervention in the Humanitarian Crisis caused by Flooding in Adamawa North Senatorial District’.

The Senate also urged the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to intervene in rehabilitating Shuwa, Jigalambu and Baladega Bridge. He said massive flooding caused catastrophic destruction in Madagıli, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North and Mabi South.

Mr Yohanna said that hundreds of houses and farmlands were destroyed, and the flood also washed away multiple culverts and bridges in Shuwa, Jigalambu and Baladega.

“More tragically is the fact that some lives were lost,” he said. “The flooding situation has overwhelmed local capacities and left thousands of people in dire need of urgent humanitarian assistance in those communities.”

According to him, the situation has worsened the already difficult economic and security situation affecting the people.

“This will relapse in the internally displaced persons tragedy as thousands of displaced people are currently taking refuge in schools,” he stressed.

Contributing to the motion, Samaila Kaila (PDP-Bauchi) thanked President Bola Timubu for his prompt action in mitigating floods in the country. He called on NEMA and other response agencies to put more effort into returning people to their houses.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio reiterated that stakeholders should be practical in preparing for the next flood and not continue to be reactive.

(NAN)