Plateau to compensate residents relocating from flood-prone areas

“The State Government will compensate people with proper documents who are relocating to safer areas.  It is part of the steps to encourage people to seek safety.“As a government, we have resolved to take every step to avoid a repeat of the massive loss of lives and property that hit Plateau State last year,’’ the […]

“The State Government will compensate people with proper documents who are relocating to safer areas.  It is part of the steps to encourage people to seek safety.
“As a government, we have resolved to take every step to avoid a repeat of the massive loss of lives and property that hit Plateau State last year,’’ the state’s Information Commissioner, Mr Abraham Yiljap, told newsmen in Jos on Tuesday.
NEMA reports indicated that the floods that hit eight Local Governments in the state, killed more than 300 people and washed away  many bridges, houses and farms.
The floods also killed many livestock and destroyed thousands of kilometres of roads.
According to Yiljap, some people in vulnerable areas have complained of a lack of money to relocate to safer zones, while others feel that they are being removed from their ancestral homes.
“We have tried to tell them that we only want to make sure that they are alive. It is better to be alive than to deliberately stay where you could be washed off in a flood.’’
He said, however, that people without proper documents to cover their houses would not be compensated as “government is not in a hurry to reward illegality’’.
Yiljap disclosed that a vast land had been allocated in Langtang, for the houses being built by the Federal Government to accommodate persons displaced by flood, expressing happiness that Plateau was selected among states to benefit from the flood relief scheme.
The commissioner said that government had stepped up campaign to sensitise Plateau residents on the need to change the habit of building and living on waterways as well as pouring of refuse into gutters.
“The media campaigns have been so massive and everyone is involved. NEMA, SEMA, as well as the ministries of environment and information are part of the efforts to sensitise the people.
“We lost so much last year and surely will not want a repeat this year, especially since we have been warned far ahead.
“In fact, the Deputy Governor (Ignatius Longjan), has led a team of government officials to Pankshin, Kanke, Langtang North, Mikang and Shendam to sensitise the people, especially the Local Government officials on what was expected from everyone.
“He particularly warned Local Government officials against delaying relief materials meant for victims. He has also warned against diversion as that would be viewed very seriously.
“The deputy governor also directed Local Governments to secure higher grounds to relocate people still inhabiting vulnerable areas.’’
Yiljap said that Longjan also inspected the level of work so far done on intervention steps initiated by the federal and Plateau Governments to repair roads and bridges damaged by the floods.(NAN)