Just In: Relocate To Safer Place – NEMA Warns As 27 States Face Severe Flooding

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a caution to communities vulnerable to flooding, particularly those situated near waterways, to move to safer, elevated areas in preparation for the peak of the rainy season.

Naija News reports that this advisory follows the release of concerning data from its Emergency Operations Centre, which indicates that severe flooding has impacted 27 states.

NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, reiterated the agency’s dedication to coordinating and providing essential support for effective disaster management throughout the nation.

A press release issued on Thursday via NEMA’s X account stated that the agency has swiftly mobilized efforts to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Titled “Update on Flood Across the Country,” the release also noted that NEMA is collaborating with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to coordinate relief operations.

This underscores NEMA’s proactive approach and preparedness to tackle the ongoing national crisis.

The release reads: “The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has responded to the recent flood incidents that devastated some communities across the country and commenced the assessment of the impacts with the various States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to provide timely and appropriate support to the affected persons.

“The timely response by NEMA to the flood incidents is in furtherance of the early preparations made by the agency in the deployment of search and rescue teams and the placement of all NEMA zonal and operation offices on alert.

“The agency has also commenced the deployment of relief items to complement efforts by the various state governments to provide succour to persons affected by the floods.”

NEMA further promised to keep raising awareness nationwide about solid waste management to encourage clearing blocked drainages.

“Furthermore, NEMA shall continue with public sensitisation as well as grassroots awareness through advocacies and workshops on solid waste management to raise public consciousness on the clearance of blocked drainages and waterways.

“So far, based on statistics from the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre established for the flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, 27 states have been impacted, with a total of 227, 494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged, as well as 16,488 hectares of farmlands with crops also damaged,” it added.

The head of NEMA called upon SEMAs and community leaders to be ready for swift flood response and reassures farmers to remain calm regarding the current brief dry period, as forecasts from NiMet indicate that it will soon come to an end.

“Umar reiterates that communities at risk of flooding and those living along waterways should relocate to safer, higher grounds ahead of the peak of the rainy season.

“Furthermore, she urges all stakeholders, especially SEMAs and community leaders, to be ready to activate, at short notice, plans and preparations for floods with the increasing incidents in some parts of the country.”

In a related development, the Director General of NEMA has urged farmers to remain calm regarding the temporary dry season currently affecting certain states, emphasizing that this condition will soon pass, as indicated in the seasonal climate forecasts published earlier this year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).