The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to improve flood and other disaster control infrastructure to avert a recurrence of flooding in the country.

The house made the call after a unanimous adoption of a motion making case for victims of flood in Niger and Kwara by reps Joshua Gana and Saba Umaru at plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Mr Gana recalled that in late May, Niger and Kwara states experienced devastating floods which affected Mokwa town and farmlands in some parts of Kwara.

Mr Gana noted that the floodwaters swept away entire neighbourhoods, destroyed critical infrastructure and displayed thousands of residents.

He said that the disaster resulted in more than 500 confirmed deaths, with more than 600 people still missing and presumed dead, with about 200 others injured and over 4,000 houses destroyed.

The lawmaker said that the flooding was triggered by torrential rain that began on May 28 and continued into the early hours of May 29.

He said, “The collapse of a nearby embankment of the old rail lines exacerbated the situation, leading to inundation of Mokwa’s commercial districts, including Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa. The floodwaters often carry contaminants, such as faecal matter, debris and pollutants, leading to spread of waterborne diseases. There is a heightened risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and acute watery diarrhoea in the affected areas.

The destruction of farmlands and food supply chains has led to food insecurity among flood victims; children, nursing mothers and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition which can weaken their immune system and increase susceptibility to infections. The overcrowded conditions in IDP camps, coupled with inadequate sanitation facilities, increase the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as measles and respiratory infection.’’

The house urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials, including water purification equipment to prevent disease outbreak in the affected communities.

The lawmakers observed a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the flood incident.

In his ruling, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, mandated the Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation of the resolutions.

(NAN)