A winds, heavy rains storm Nigeria Solomon (hung, Abuja, Maryam Ahmadu­Suka, Kaduna, Isiaka Wakili, lokoja & Doyin Adebusuyi, Ado-Ekiti

THE rains this year began heavily_ lust few weeks into the rainy season, the rainstorms which · came in torrents had already wreaked havoc in some

cities across the country last week, not only ending in destruction of properties,

. killing some persons in the process. No fewer than seven persons were reportedly killed when the wall of a grain processing factory located in Kudenda industrial layout, Kaduna, fell during torrential rains. . Witnesses told our correspondents

that the wall of the factory fen when th e roof of the factory was blown off. The incident attracted residents of the community who thronged to the factory site in a bid to rescue the factory workers trapped under the rubble. "We all went there in the rain in order to rescue the

! I

factory workers. The rain was very strong and was accompanied by heavy wind. Before long, we started seeing cars carrying the corpses of the workers. Three died on the spot while four died at a hospital;' an eyewitness said.

Speaking to our correspondent on phone, the manager, who refused to disclose his name and that of the company, confirmed the incident but that it was four persons that died as a result of the collapse of the wall. "Yes, it happened but it was as a result of storms and winds. It was the wind that pulled the roof away, which led to the collapse of the wall. They were working outside the factory. Sixteen persons sustained injuries and they have since been treated and discharged:'

When contacted, spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Aminu Lawan confirmed the report but that it was a natural disaster. "We are aware of it but it is a natural incident. Some people died and many others sustained various degrees of injuries;' he said. In areas like Unguwan Dosa, Kawo,

Badarawa and Unguwan Kaji in Kaduna, there were reports of power lines and poles falling, leading to total black out. A resident, who did not want his name in print said as a result of the damage the rains caused, residents of the area had to make monetary contributions to restore power because the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) did not do so. Reports of falling trees totaling five have been recorded across the state one of which fell along Gen. Muhammadu Buhari way, but no life was lost.

In Ekiti State, residents of Ipan, in Ikole local government, were also badly affected by the torrential rains some weeks ago. No fewer than 62 houses either had their roof tops blown off or damaged in the heavy storm. Ukoro and Emure­Ekiti were also affected in the rainstorm, first recorded in February. Residents described the incident as unprecedented. Some of the houses whose roofs were blown off were left so for days due to financial incapacity of the owners. The state government, however, came to their

rescue by compensating them with cash and relief materials.

Dr. Ojo, the Medical Director of Mother and Child Clinic, Opopogbooro, Ado-Ekiti and Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, attributed the flood to blockage of drainages with refuse which residents do indiscriminately. To prevent such disaster in the future, a cross-section of the residents said they have made it a point of duty to decongest drainages in front of their houses on regular basis to ensure free flow of water during rainfall.

A resident, Mr. Emmanuel Olanrewaju Omopariola, said rain storms have become a regular occurrence in the town as the recent one was the third time it would happen at such a disastrous degree. He appealed to the government to help the community find a lasting solution to the annual disaster in addition to whatever relief materials the government would provide.

Even with the rainstorms, in some parts of the country where hot weather has been tormenting residents, the rain came as a kind of succor. In Kogi State, for example, residents had been languishing

Weekly Trust

under excessive heat in the metropolis that they resorted to prayers for rain to commence. Last Sunday, their prayers were answered) and it rained cats and dogs, a rainstorm that shook almost the entire state. Several residential houses. places of worship, school buildi ngs and electric po!'es were destroyed. It started at about 7.20pm, lasting about 30 minutes. Such areas in Lokoja as Gadumo, Adankolo, Kabawa, Felele, among others were affected, as well as Edeha and Bassa. Many residents said it was beyond their understanding. According to them, it would have been better if there was no rain at all. Apart from lOSing valuable property to the incident, its psychological effect, especially on little children, is devastating.

A resident of Adankola, Lokoja, Mr. Bola Yekini, described the incident as terrible and urged the state government to intervene so that m'any of those affected would not remain homeless for long. Similarly, Hajia Zaynab Abdullahi, a resident of Gaduma, who spoke to Weekly Trust, described the incident as very unusual. The rainstorm shook the enti re state capital like a tsunami. Houses were shaken to their foundation , houses were unroofed. This is a very traumatic experience, especially now that building materials are costly. This is the time for those in government to prove that they are concerned about those they govern".

Following the incident, 67-year-old retired teacher, Mallam Ibrahim Ahmed, a resident of Fele1e area of Lokoja, has relocated to his younger brother's

residence in Lokongoma. He lamenls that the rainstorm has destroyed the house he managed to build about 26 years ago. The

(ontinued on next page

, 'SimUafty,HajiaZaynab: , Abdijllahi,a resident of'

-Ga~oma, who spoke to ~ WeekIYT~5t,d~aibed tIt.e]

inddel1tasveryunusual:!he! rainstormshooktheenti~j

'. state~pitallikelltslinami. l . H~weieshakenio~

theii'found.ation,hooses 1 were unroofed. Thisis~j

. verytrau~cexperienceT1

, espetiaUynowihatbliildiilg! .• 0 materialsare.costiy.;

' ,,111 iI 11111111 I!~II ,,:11,1 II IJ

Weekly Trust Saturday, May 14,2011

As winds, heavy rains storm Nigeria Continued from previous page

Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, was also not spared. The institution's principal officers' car park, library, art and design department and school of general studies were affected .

The rector ofthe polyLechnic, Professor Mathew Idowu Ajibero, urged the state government and spirited individuals to come to the aid of the institution, saying that the school authority has no capacity to replace the destroyed facilities.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the SLate Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Rhoda Momoh, has called on those who lost their property to the incident to report to the agency immediately. She enjoined Lhem

K~~una's Kigo Road re.s.jdents.". fl9~ded ~y anxiety . . ,' .~ i' ~ The area called Kigo New Extension, offCoristitlJtiohRoad '\ in Kaduna is renowned for its annual f1ooding,at thep eaf( " of the rainy season. What are resident~of th,e'Qtea doing in

. preparation of the annual f1ood's'arrival? '

Adie Vanessa Offiong, who was In Kaduna

LIVING by a river is usually a dream location for many

,: home owners and prospective i buyers_It also costs an arm and , a leg to rent such properties,

But this is not the case for residents of Amb. Katumba Aboki Avenue, a streef located by the water route of River KaduIla,in the Kigo New Extension area, Titi and Mary Agboola, sisters who have lived on this street for the past five years and have witnessed the disastrous loses as a result of the annual flood in the area, had las t year concluded plans to relocate when our reporter visited the area. Surprisingly, they were found still residing there. "It was only last month that we were able to put money together to enable us move somewhere else. We are hoping to tlnd· a su itable place before the rains become heavier." Thesisters explained. Asked if ' hey had made any anticipatory preparal ions if eventl,lally they are unable to relocate by Ihe time the season reaches its pea k, TiLi said, "Well, litLle. We did not replace any of the electronics or kitchenware we lost las I year. We have also moved our furniture and other valuables to a friend's house 011

Kat,ina Road. If Ihe heavy rains meet us here, we'l! manage as we can,"

There is an ongoing construc" 0n of drainage along Makarfi Street wiJich however seems abandoned. Our reporter learnt from Mrs. Ene Ohaba, a petty trader on the street, that landlords on the street had raised funds themselves towards the project. "The landlords on the st reet

contrlbutedfuoney til. build this, drainage •. , so that when th~ rains:become heavy;the ' .. water can flowJreeJy,irito the main river, at the end of the roadi they start~d wor1,{" about four m91lthS ago, but itseeins to!)e - . slow due to lack of funds to fInish it.". sM added that, ~Since 'soine time, last week ' when they Iiiought and laid .iron rods;,

. nothihg else has b~en done." '. , . It is obsei;ved that ,the.half-completed .. , 'arainage stand the risk of being filled .. up with sand again ' because .heaps of. it ,has been piled on differeni sides of the construction'site, which the rains will wash back in ihvork . remains uncompleted .. 'Some residents, it was noticed, have taken precautions qy ~levatiIig their foundation ' levels in a way that it :keeps water out of their compounds. AlsD,. large and small chunks of grav~ls lui"e ' been ,scattered around 'vadous spo.ts of tlie streets .

,perceived to be the rn.ost susceptible to. the rains.

AgeneralJamentatibh of the' residentS is that in spite of the calamitylvhich befalls ' them annually, the endless promises by the government \tnd respective authorities to ' put an end to the situation or tonipensate them for their losses, remains inj!lt:ious to their psyche. '~Lasl year': Mallam Taofeek Mohammed s'ald, "We were devastated by the water levefs that rose almost to our roof tops. We losti?racticallyeverytliiilg because it all ~tartedat night. Authorities came to, view and accesS the amOunt of damage arid ;' promised ihat by the neld rainfall season, it .. would all be' taken care of and there wouid, .' .. be rio repealM suclr. This is Olle year after ' . and we're still where we'were:' " .

".-";.,

ri'liUw~k,aswel'theWife l [' ' . ofthethiefJuStic:eofttie: J • ;.l' " 1

~' " ":. F.edera~~niM,rs.Vidoriai ( .. Mimi Katsina-Aluwas also i r : ,'- . I . . ,

i<!', :~illedor1S~rdaynightbya : ~. :,: . fallirig.~e~t~ei{country

. ":~ "(lIpt! in BlmueState.Just : v-- " ' ':J.ik~tlieO~erinddentsin , ~:j " ;'; Kadu~~t~ogi and Ekiti; it i

,". !" w~attri~utedtoa heavy , ~,;':",: '. ," :;;~ain~orii1 I Sci~"tistsha1je ; f):.- ':;;" attriblJt~ unpredictable: V';' .'" ' weatMttotlieeffertof: ,;;" .'" <,,':~Ii~atechange ' r,i:: lIill iJI i I nlill n 11111 n '" ~' .• :-,.. . .i~:<-"'" I :~'. :

to forward pictures of destroyed property to their local government chairmen , saying that the agency was compiling the list of those to be compensated by th e state government.

Last week, as well, the wife of the Chief Justice of the Federation, Mrs. Victoria Mimi Katsina-Alu was also killed on Satu rday night by a fa ll ing tree at their country home in Benue State. Just like the other incidents in Kaduna, Kogi and Ekiti, it was attributed to a heavy rainstorm, Scientists have attributed unpredictable weather to the effect of climate change and therefore have been campaigning against green house emissions which dest roy the ozone layer resulting to aU sorts of natural disaste rs.

PIC: ~die lfilnessa.9ffiong