NEMA Urges Residents of Flood Prone Areas To Relocate To Higher Grounds
By Ladi Dapson
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has applealed to those who are living on flood-prone areas in nine local government areas of Borno State to start relocating now to safer areas to ave lives and property.
The agency also called on religious and traditional leaders to counsel residents on impending flood, calling for immediate clearing of debris in water bodies by relevant authorities to prevent blockages and the creation of detention dams.
Acting Zonal Coordinator North-East office, Surajo Garba made call while speaking with newsmen during a sensitization workshop on effective waste management and flood management in Borno State, held in Maiduguri
He warned that communities should relocate to higher grounds before flooding starts.
According to predictions and the outlook released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), nine LGAs will be pounded by flood this year in the state.
“The NiMET weather prediction is almost hundred per cent correct,” he said before asking those residing on low-lying grounds to move to higher grounds for safety. This forecast should be taken seriously, and those residing in prone areas should begin to relocate to high grounds, we are appealing to them.
“Nine LGAs include Maiduguri, Kaga, Mobar, Bama, Abadam, Ngala, Kala-Balge, Dikwa, and Jere respectively.”he said.
He said NEMA, SEMA, BOSEPA and other partners are working to safeguard lives and property, and provide necessary sensitization to communities in the state.
Also, speaking the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr Julianna Bitrus said the cleaning of drainages should not be left to government alone, it must be everybody business.
“It has always been our called most especially during this rainy season to tell people that cleanness of the environment must not be left with government and taken care of waste disposal must be everybody’s business, it is our responsibility to take care of our drainages in order to avoid flood and everybody must be involved in this.”
Stakeholders at the workshop include traditional rulers, religion leaders, SEMA, BOSEPA, local NGO and other partners.
