Jonathan Pledges Support for Flood Victims In Lagos, Ogun

PHOTO: A FLOODED COMMUNITY IN THE AJEGUNLE AREA OF IKORODU IN LAGOS.

LAGOS, Oct 13, (THEWILL) - President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today pledged that the federal government would support the victims of flood in Lagos and Ogun States just as it gave aid to the victims in Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

President Jonathan made the pledge in a message posted on his Facebook Wall, while assuring the victims in both states that the federal government would come to their assistance without further delay.

According to the president, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under the leadership of Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Audu-Bida had been directed to immediately provide relief to the victims.

President Jonathan wrote: "This is a palliative measure pending when the government will have assessed the full extent of the damage in order that we may take short term measures to fully alleviate the sufferings of the victims and long term measures to prevent a re-occurrence as much as is humanly possible.

"I want to assure you that just as the federal government came to the aid of the victims in the North-West in a timely manner we will also come to your aid. Already, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been directed to immediately provide relief to the victims of the flood.

"I therefore commiserate with the victims of the flood in Lagos and Ogun states. I know what a trying experience you are going through because I recently visited flood victims in Sokoto and Kebbi states to experience firsthand their pain.

"I also want to assure Nigerians that even as we enter this electioneering period, my focus will remain in providing good leadership and service to you. When any person or any part of the country is in pains, we are all in pains. I therefore hold the view that leadership must be all about rendering service to the community not to the self. Once again I commiserate with the victims. You are not alone at this trying moment," Jnathan assured in his post.

The President’s message is coming ten days after the massive flooding at Ajegunle area of Ikorodu. Consequently, Lagos State Government had placed on alert emergency agencies to respond to unforeseen disasters in the area, an effort which had led to the evacuation and resettlement of 681 internally displaced victims.

The disaster is courtesy of the Ogun River, which overflowed its bank as the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority released water from the Oyan Dam into the river.