The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling flooding in affected areas across Nigeria. NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, emphasized this commitment during a sensitization program in Port Harcourt titled “Downscaling Flood Early Warning Strategies to the Grassroots in Rivers State.”
Represented by Dr. Daniel Obot, Director of Disaster Risk Management, Umar explained that the program was prompted by the 2024 flood outlook prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
“NiMet and the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency have predicted that some local government areas in Rivers will face high and moderate probable flooding. That is why we are here today,” Umar said.
NiMet identified 13 local government areas in Rivers as flood-prone in its 2024 outlook. These areas include Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Degema, Emuoha, Oyigbo, Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Bonny, Port Harcourt, and Okrika.
The program’s goal is to educate residents on the necessary actions and encourage communities to comply with early warning alerts. Umar emphasized the importance of community-wide participation to mitigate the impact of flooding in the state.
“We are here to educate residents on the necessary actions and the importance of complying with early warning alerts. We are pleased with the collaboration so far. It’s encouraging to see sister organizations, security agencies, government bodies, and individuals coming together to brainstorm on risk reduction measures,” she said. “We have identified the gaps from the past and our 2024 strategies aim to address these gaps.”
Mr. Tamunosiki Ogbanga, Director of Emergency/Disaster Management at the Rivers Ministry of Special Duties, advised residents to take precautionary measures to avoid loss of life and property. He urged residents to avoid actions that could block drains and hinder the effective flow of rainwater.
Mr. Adebiyi Rasak, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, highlighted the agency’s proactive steps in preparing for the flood prediction.
“Towards the end of the year, there will be a peak period when floods will impact these communities. We are aware of this and are ensuring the availability of essentials, such as makeshift camps and stockpiles of food, to support affected people. We are also ensuring that the state emergency management agency activates emergency operation centers in collaboration with NEMA and other stakeholders,” Rasak said.
The zonal coordinator urged residents of the affected communities to be more environment-friendly to reduce the impact of the flooding.
