The Technical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment in Delta says a total sum of N9.6 billion would be needed to rehabilitate flood victims in the state.<\/p>\n
This is contained in the report of the committee presented to Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan on Monday in Asaba at a public ceremony.<\/p>\n
The committee was headed by Prof Eric Arubaye, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Delta State University, Abraka.<\/p>\n
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee\u2019s report was presented by Prof. Chris Orubu, a member of the committee.<\/p>\n
Orubu however said the N9.6 billion is an initial estimate for the immediate rehabilitation of the people, noting that the estimate excluded the cost of rehabilitating roads and other infrastructure.<\/p>\n
NAN reports that the committee was set up by Uduaghan on Oct. 24, 2012 with a two-week mandate to complete and present its report to the state government.<\/p>\n
Orubu said the committee concentrated its findings on the 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) which were greatly affected out of the 14 LGAs submitted to it.<\/p>\n
He said in view of the grave impact of the flood, the two-week mandate was rather too short to complete such an important report.<\/p>\n
The committee, however, recommended a second and more detailed assessment to cover all the affected 231 communities in 12 LGAs of the state.<\/p>\n
He said that 33,008 cassava crops, 9,860 tubers of yam, 526 poultry, 58 piggery and 4,357 fish farms, among others, were destroyed by the flood in the LGAs.<\/p>\n
Orubu said that 5,099 mud houses and 9,000 block houses, 220 primary schools and 84 secondary schools were also destroyed, excluding the hospitals.<\/p>\n
He said that farmers were the most affected by the flood, adding that N3.12 billion was estimated for the rehabilitation of crops, while livestock destroyed were estimated at N2.9 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur modest estimates for rehabilitating one mud house is N100,000 while that of block house is N2.2 milion, and with the stalls and the markets, we arrived at a total sum of N3.15 billion,\u2019\u2019 Orubu said.<\/p>\n
The committee however recommended, as a short-term intervention, the clearing and fumigation of the affected communities.<\/p>\n
It also recommended the construction of new ring wells, boreholes and rehabilitation of sewage facilities, among others.<\/p>\n
“For the long-term intervention, we urge the state government to carry out a post-impact assessment study in the affected communities.<\/p>\n
“It should also construct flood walls, dispersion and diversion structures and open all natural water channels,\u2019\u2019 Orubu said.<\/p>\n
Receiving the report, Uduaghan thanked the committee members and others who were similarly commissioned to present reports on the various aspects of the flood.<\/p>\n
He assured that the report would be studied and acted upon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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