Rainfall wrecks havoc on NIWA headquarters

Properties worth several millions of naira were destroyed by the early morning rain pounding part of Kogi state.

The rainfall which was accompanied by windstorm blew off the roofs of many houses including the headquarters of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lokoja.

The headquarters of NIWA which was worst hit had part of the survey department, the NIWA police command and some other offices destroyed.

Also the Perimeter fencing of the press centre of Nigeria Union of Journalists, and some buildings in the premises were pulled down by the rainstorm.

It was also gathered that some houses and properties in Kabba and Okene were also affected as the rainstorm fell some trees and damaged some stationary vehicles.

Confirming the wreckage the rain did to the NIWA headquarters, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of NIWA , Mr Tayo Fadile said the havoc was on sensitive areas of the headquarters.

He however called for an emergency intervention of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to give express approval to NIWA to repair the damaged offices and replace the damaged equipments.

He said the rain damaged the survey department roof, the police command office‎.

‘The BPP should give emergency approval to be able to carry out repairs immediately because if repair work is not done immediately, equipment and machinery in the survey department will be affected.

Also, the police command was affected and they may be without office for a long time.

“We appeal that the BPP should show some under standing and give express approval for NIWA to repair the damaged structures immediately before further damage is done especially now that we have entered raining season,” he said