A devastating rainstorm has destroyed the main office block at the headquarters of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and damaged several public and private facilities across Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The violent storm, which struck between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. last Thursday, ripped roofs off buildings, destroyed public infrastructure, uprooted trees, damaged electricity facilities and billboards, and left a trail of destruction across the city.
Confirming the incident, NIWA’s spokesperson, Suleiman Makama, disclosed that the storm severely affected offices housing the Engineering, Survey, Special Duties, Project Management, and Area Office Coordination Departments.
Makama described the incident as both devastating and unfortunate, noting that several departments were badly affected while staff members were displaced due to the destruction of their offices. He added that critical documents, office equipment, and sensitive materials were exposed to heavy rainfall during the incident.
“One major challenge is that the affected staff have been displaced and temporarily rendered without offices,” he said.
The storm also caused serious damage in other parts of Lokoja. A 33KVA electricity transformer located opposite the Kogi State Specialist Hospital was reportedly damaged, triggering a fire outbreak at the nearby A.A. Rano Filling Station.
The fire destroyed five fuel dispensing pumps, while only one pump reportedly survived the inferno.
Other affected areas included the Police Area Command near the Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Works axis, where a large tree was uprooted by strong winds.
Along IBB Way, trees were brought down, while several billboards were destroyed in different parts of the metropolis. Despite the widespread destruction, no casualties were recorded.