The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has placed its Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices on standby following a high flood risk alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) covering 15 states.
In a statement issued by its Press Unit, the agency said NIHSA’s flood advisory forecasts a high risk of riverine flooding due to rising river levels in Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia States.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, directed the agency’s offices in the affected states to immediately activate existing preparedness mechanisms, maintain close coordination with relevant authorities and response stakeholders, monitor vulnerable locations, and be ready to support response interventions.
Mrs Umar urged residents of floodplains, riverbanks, low-lying areas and other exposed communities to take the warning seriously and relocate to designated safe, higher ground before conditions worsen.
She stressed that special attention should be given to vulnerable groups, including children, older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, during evacuation and other precautionary measures.
The Director General also called on state and local government authorities to activate their emergency preparedness mechanisms and pre-position relief and response materials at safe, strategic locations on higher ground for rapid intervention.
These include food and non-food items, safe drinking water and water-treatment supplies, first-aid and medical supplies, and rescue equipment.
Emphasising the importance of early action in reducing the impact of flooding on lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure, she urged communities to cooperate with emergency management authorities and comply with evacuation advisories whenever they are issued.
Mrs Umar further cautioned residents against crossing flooded roads, bridges or fast-moving water, whether on foot or in vehicles, and advised communities to keep monitoring official flood warnings and updates from relevant government agencies.
