Posted by By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta on
Shock and disbelief greeted the inmates of the Abeokuta flood victims' camp as the state government ordered their disbandment.
Shock and disbelief greeted the inmates of the Abeokuta flood victims' camp as the state government ordered their disbandment.
No fewer than 171 unfortunate residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital were displaced by ravaging flood.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Adeleke Adedoyin, who justified the closure of the camp, which was opened barely five hours after the natural disaster sacked the state capital last month, said all was now well with the victims.
According to him, the situation at the residences of the affected victims were now habitable 'since the flood has subsided."
His words: 'The camp is closed because the flooded areas are relatively dried and therefore, they are expected to go to their various respective places. It is the understanding between us and them, because the place is now dry," he told journalists yesterday.
Adedoyin, however, assured that the state government has pushed their case to the Federal Government.
'What remains now is for the government, after the evaluation of the losses to give them something after we must have received assistance from the Federal Government."
Continuing, the commissioner told journalists that the disaster could not be handled by the state government alone. 'The state government can't handle it alone.
The little we can do is to give them first assistance which we have done by camping, clothing and feeding them and providing health care.
'That's what we have done. Other requests have been sent to the Federal Government in whom we hope soonest will get back to us on their plight".
He also disclosed that the state government spent between N7 million to N8 million in providing shelter, feeding clothing and health care delivery to the victims of the flood disaster.
Asked whether the closure order was limited to the Abeokuta camp alone, Adedoyin said: 'We have another one near Lagos, the ‘Sparklight Estate'. All has been disbanded because water has subsided and they have to go back to their normal life and business. That's why we have to decamp most of the camps.
He also added: 'Here (Abeokuta) in particular, the people at the school need their facilities for summer classes, so we have to leave for them."