Niger state government says it will soon commence the implementation of relocation of 13 communities that are at the receiving end of yearly flooding to New Muregi resettlement site in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
The state commissioner for Lands and Housing, Isah Musa Kanko disclosed this during the Bi-Weekly press briefing on Friday in Minna.
He said that directive to that effect has been communicated to the ministry by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
Communities in the downstream of Rivers Niger and Kaduna are yearly submerged at the peak of rainy season as the two rivers overflow their banks resulting in deaths and destruction.
The activities of the Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba dams also threaten lives and properties around its fringes due to spillage of water.
Disturbed by the development, the state government has earmarked some sites upland for the relocation of affected communities across the state.
The relocation of the people of downstream of River Niger to New Muregi was conceived 18 years ago by the administration of Governor Abdulkadir Kure but lack of funds had stalled the project, Daily Trust learnt.
It would be recalled that the state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso had disclosed in July that the state government had reached out to the federal government for assistance to relocate people of the affected areas this year.
Kanko said the layout design of the New Muregi resettlement site has since been concluded, even as he noted that key agencies have been directed to commence infrastructural development and provision of social amenities ahead of the relocation.
He added that mechanism is being put in place towards the relocation of people within the Ketso area which are been inundated by flood yearly. DT
