At least 17,000 communities have been consumed by flood in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, the state government said on Monday.
Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) disclosed this after a visit to the affected areas.
The situation has rendered thousands of inhabitants of the communities homeless, with 60,000 persons losing their shelters in Mokwa local government area alone.
Tanko Lawal, Information Officer in the office of the SSG, said this in a statement in Minna, the state capital after accompanying the SSG for an on-the-spot assessment of the flood in Mokwa local government Area of the state. Mokwa, Lapai, Edati, Lavun, Shiroro, Munya and Wushishi Local Government areas were submerged by flood.
He said the state government began distribution of 2,400 assorted grains to communities affected in Mokwa to cushion the effect and assured the people of Muregi, the worst affected area; that government would expedite action towards relocating them to the new Muregi before the end of the Governor Abubakar Bello-led administration.
In their remarks, the Kuta of Kede, Alhaji Muhammad Muregi and District Head of Jaagi, Alhaji Yahaya Aliyu, appealed to the government to come to their aid as many households have lost their shelter and means of livelihood.
The SSG was accompanied on the visit by members of the state House of Assembly representing Lavun and Edati Constituencies, Abdullahi Gbara and Salihu Tama.
Others include the Special Adviser, Zone A, Alhaji Nasiru Ndafogi and Alhaji Yahaya Sheti, Chairman of Mokwa local government area as well as top government functionaries and party stalwarts.
