Deputy Governor Onyekachi Ibezim has estimated that over one-third of the land mass in Anambra has been devastated by floods, which have also taken 17 lives as of Tuesday.

Mr Ibezim said the floods have also caused the collapse of infrastructure, public and private buildings and means of residents’ livelihoods.

The deputy governor disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who brought relief materials to Anambra.

“The devastating floods hit seven of the 21 local government areas of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, NEMA director-general Mustapha Ahmed said the floods hit 450 of the 774 local government areas of the country and the FCT.

“The 2022 Annual Flood Outlook forecasted that 233 local government areas in 32 states and the FCT would be at sizeable risk. It also stated that 212 council areas in 35 states and the FCT were within moderately probable flood risks,” said the official. “Already, NEMA is inundated with reports of flood in more than 450 council areas in 36 states and the FCT, and it is still counting, causing loss of lives, livelihoods, properties and infrastructures.”

Mr Ahmed added that the federal government could not compensate for the victims’ traumatic experiences but must help alleviate their sufferings with relief materials.

Paul Odenigbo, the executive secretary of the Anambra Emergency Management Agency, Ogbaru, Anambra West, Anambra East, Ayamelum, Ihiala, Awka North and Ekwusigo local government areas were flooded.

“As of Wednesday, 28 holding centres have been activated to receive displaced victims. Already, there are 28,280 persons in those centres,” Mr Odenigbo explained. “The flood has also affected 60 per cent of the state’s land mass and has been worse than experienced in 2012.”

(NAN)