NEMA INTENSIFIES FLOOD PREPAREDNESS OVER HIGH RISK ALERT
Residents in flood-prone communities across 15 states have been urged to take early precautions and move to safer locations as the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, intensifies preparations ahead of possible riverine flooding.
The warning follows a high flood risk alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, which identified Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia States as areas facing increased risks due to rising river levels.
For families living along riverbanks, floodplains and low-lying communities, the alert is a reminder that waiting until floodwaters arrive could make evacuation more difficult and dangerous.
In a statement issued by the NEMA Press Unit, Abuja, the Director General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said NEMA had activated its Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices covering the affected states to closely monitor developments in vulnerable communities.
According to her, the agency is also working with relevant authorities and emergency response stakeholders to ensure that necessary measures are put in place before the situation escalates.
Mrs Umar urged residents in flood-prone areas to take the warning seriously and relocate to safer and higher ground before flood conditions worsen.
She also called on communities to pay particular attention to vulnerable residents, including children, older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, during evacuation and other emergency preparations.
The NEMA Director General further appealed to State and Local Government authorities to activate their emergency preparedness mechanisms and pre-position essential relief and response materials at strategic locations on higher ground.
These, she noted, should include food, safe drinking water, medical supplies and rescue equipment needed to support communities in the event of flooding.
Beyond the immediate threat to homes, NEMA warned that flooding can disrupt livelihoods, damage roads and other critical infrastructure, and expose residents to additional safety and health risks.
Mrs Umar therefore stressed the importance of early action, urging residents to avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and fast-moving water, whether on foot or in vehicles.
She also advised the public to rely on official flood warnings and updates from NEMA, NIHSA and other relevant government agencies rather than taking unnecessary risks or relying on unverified information.
NEMA said it would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with NIHSA, State Emergency Management Agencies and other stakeholders, while its response teams remain on standby to provide support where necessary.
For communities already accustomed to seasonal flooding, the message from the authorities is clear: early preparation and timely evacuation could make the difference between a manageable emergency and a disaster.If you want,
