· NEMA Activates Emergency Centers
While Nigerians are still recovering from the disaster caused by the recent incidents of rainfall in Lagos State and some other parts of the country, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted a heavy downpour from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
The agency, on Sunday, forecast thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, and Jigawa states later in the day.
“In the North Central region, rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara and Niger states during the morning hours.
“While later in the day, thunderstorms and rains are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi and Benue states.
“Morning rains are anticipated over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Abia, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has disclosed that it has activated the various emergency centres across the country to help in tackling the flood situation in states.
It also urged residents living in flood-prone locations to move away from floodplains, stressing that responses from citizens in some of the affected states had been below expectation.
READ ALSO: Lagos Commuters Stranded As Downpour Floods Roads
The government disclosed this through the National Emergency Management Agency, as some state governments announced the commencement of river dredging in their domains, while others ordered residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate.
This was contained in a statement titled: Flood Incidents: NEMA Activates Operational Offices Nationwide To Support States, Conduct Assessments” by Manzo Ezekiel, Head, Press Unit, NEMA
It reads, “In furtherance of its proactive flood risk management, the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar has activated all Zonal, Territorial and Operation offices of the Agency nationwide to work with the States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) within their area of responsibilities to carry out rescue operations and conduct assessment of the situation.
The NEMA Zonal, Territorial and Operation offices are located in Lagos, Ibadan, Ekiti, Abuja, Minna, Jos, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Edo, Uyo, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Yola and Gombe. At the headquarters NEMA also operates a toll-free emergency contact line: 0800CALLNEMA (080022556362) in addition to all its social media platforms through which feedback from members of the public can be received nationwide.
Consequently, NEMA Search and Rescue officers have been deployed across the states and providing the much-desired support in coordination of rescue operations with SEMAs and other stakeholders at recently flooded areas and communities. The Agency is also conducting rapid assessment to determine any further assistance that may be required in the impacted communities.
READ ALSO: Lagos, Anambra, 29 Other States at Risk of Heavy Flooding From April-FG
The rescue efforts by NEMA is in addition to the ongoing sensitization and awareness activities being carried out to alert the public of the predicted flood for necessary actions to be taken to avert negative impacts.
On Wednesday 3rd July, the Director General NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar was in Anambra State on flood advocacy where she discussed with the Deputy Governor who represented the Governor, religious and community leaders on measures to avert and mitigate against flood in the state which often record severe flooding annually. She has also previously visited several states and stakeholders across the country on the same mission with plans to continue with the advocacy.
As part of its pre-rainy season flood prevention advocacy, the Agency engaged the media in the placement of flood sensitization jingles, held emergency coordination forums with critical stakeholders to prepare them for the predicted disaster.
The Agency, had soon after the flood prediction written all State Governments with the list of Local Governments that are at risk and outlined actions required to be taken also to avert or mitigate against the disaster. A number of states that heeded the advisory from NEMA have acknowledged their early actions matched with the warnings and NEMA responses that have made lots of differences.
NEMA wishes to reemphasize the flood warning while calling on all stakeholders including State and Local Government to be prepared with the intensifying of the rain season”.
