NEMA urges flood-prone residents to relocate as rains intensify nationwide

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The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, has urged residents of flood-prone communities across the country to heed early warning alerts and relocate to safer locations as the rainy season intensifies.

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Umar advised in a statement issued by the agency’s Press Unit on Saturday, warning that the current period of heightened rainfall requires communities at risk to take proactive steps to protect lives and property.

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According to the statement, the NEMA boss said the period of increased rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

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She urged residents to heed early warning information issued by relevant government agencies and relocate to higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding.

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The statement read, “The current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding.”

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Umar also cautioned members of the public against driving or walking through floodwaters, while urging them to refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels.

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She further advised residents to promptly report emergency situations to the appropriate authorities to enable a timely response.

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The NEMA DG stressed that “preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season.”

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She disclosed that the agency’s Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices had been directed to intensify community-based awareness campaigns on flood preparedness nationwide.

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According to her, the officials have also been mandated to strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders, as well as coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary.

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Umar reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to continuous monitoring of the flood situation nationwide. He pledged that the agency would continue working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely response and the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected persons.

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The latest advisory comes days after the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency warned that 14 states could experience medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20, following its latest hydrological forecast. The agency identified Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau as states likely to experience localised flooding, urging residents in vulnerable communities to take precautionary measures.

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Earlier, the Federal Ministry of Environment had also issued a flood alert for 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, warning that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in hundreds of communities. The ministry advised residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, monitor official weather advisories and relocate where necessary to minimise the risk to lives and property.

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