The Federal Government plans to construct more dams on Rivers Niger and Benue to check the menace of flooding in communities along the river banks, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Thursday in Lokoja.
Addressing victims of the recent flood disaster that affected 457 communities in Kogi, the president described the disaster as natural but said that government would prevent a future re-occurrence.
He commended the victims for bearing the pains of the disaster, adding that the N500 million released to the state government on Tuesday was to take care of their immediate needs, as more assistance was underway.
He said he had inaugurated a committee comprising eminent Nigerians to further mobilise more assistance for the victims.
“We are interested in what happened to you after the flood,’’ he told the displaced persons at St. Luke Primary School, Adankolo area in Lokoja.
Jonathan who had earlier visited Ibaji Local Government to assess the level of disaster, said he was disturbed that four farmers whose rice farms were washed away, had committed suicide.
He advised the victims against taking extreme decisions.
“Please, don’t commit suicide. You have a government that will assist you.
“Even, if you borrow money from banks, don’t worry, when the flood is over, we will know how to deal with it. Be rest assured that the Federal Government and Kogi State will take care of the situation,'' he said.
He described the flood as unprecedented and commended the state government, NGOs and? Faith-Based Organisations for their assistance.
The four babies delivered in the camp in the past six days were also brought out by their mothers.
Kogi Governor, Capt Idris Wada, had earlier thanked the president and his entourage, for identifying with them.
He said that the visit was a demonstration of the president’s deepest feeling and concern for the victims.
He said he was particularly happy with the deployment of a search-and-rescue team to Ibaji LGA to rescue trapped victims.
Wada also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for releasing N500 million to enable the victims to feed well.
Responding on behalf of the flood victims, Mr Dan Musa Bashir expressed? gratitude to the president, as well as the state government, for caring.
Bashir, however, said that the displaced victims longed to return home.