ABUJA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria declared flood emergency in five more states due to recent flooding that ravaged parts of the West African country.
Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency Sanni Datti told Xinhua Friday that the decision to declare an emergency was taken on Thursday, in view of the damage caused by the disaster in the northeastern states of Adamawa and Taraba, the northwestern state of Kebbi and oil-rich Bayelsa and Rivers states.
On Sept. 17, Nigeria first declared "national disaster" on the four states of Kogi, Niger, Anambra, and Delta.
Datti said the latest declaration will help to enhance ongoing efforts to tackle and assist flood victims across the West African country.
At least 200 people were killed in floods in Nigeria this year, according to government data.
Kogi State in the central part of Nigeria is the worst-hit by the flood which started in August.
In addition to the rising death toll, some 1,300 people have been reportedly injured and nearly 2 million affected by the recent flooding in areas along the Niger and Benue rivers in Nigeria.
On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate called for a stakeholders meeting to discuss the perennial flood disaster across the country with a view to proffering a lasting solution to the menace.
