Odita Sunday 
NEMA Assesses Flood Damage in Kogi Communities, Moves to Identify Urgent Needs
By Odita Sunday
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assessed the extent of damage caused by flooding in several communities in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State as part of efforts to determine urgent humanitarian needs and coordinate appropriate interventions.
The assessment was conducted by officials of NEMA’s Abuja Operations Office (AOO), in collaboration with the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and other emergency response stakeholders.
The team visited flood-ravaged communities including Odaki, Ukwo, Kpokpozi and Bass B, where it assessed the impact of the disaster on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and other critical areas.
The exercise is expected to provide an accurate situation report on the affected communities and guide government and humanitarian agencies in planning appropriate relief and recovery measures.
As part of the exercise, the NEMA team also paid an advocacy visit to the Ohimege of Koton Karfe, Dr Salihu Akawu Saidu, to strengthen collaboration with traditional institutions and community stakeholders in responding to the flood disaster.
The KOSEMA delegation was led by the Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Emergency Management, Hon. Muhammed Shuaibu.
Other stakeholders involved in the assessment included officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Humanitarian Emergency Assistance Programme (N-HYPERDEC).
NEMA said the joint assessment would strengthen coordination among emergency response agencies and ensure that interventions are based on verified information about the impact and needs of affected communities.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working with state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and humanitarian partners to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts across the country.
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