Niger govt warns flood-prone communities to avoid river banks

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has directed people living and farming around river banks to limit water-based activities and move to interland to avoid being flooded.

Garba Salihu, overseeing Director General of NSEMA, gave the directives during a meeting with the 25 local government desk officers of the agency in Minna.

He explained that the meeting was based on the directive of Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, who is also the Chairman of the agency, to meet with desk officers and inform them of the impending flood.

“Our desk officers across 25 local governments are to carry this information to various flood prone communities to pass the information on the impending disaster to them in good time

“They are also to establish contacts with traditional rulers to sensitise communities located on transregional river Niger and Kaduna to steer clear of flood areas during this wet season,” he said.

Mr Salihu said the flood outlook of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NISHA) and the 2023 seasonal climate prediction by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET) had placed the state among higher risk flood states.

He said violent water behaviour would be experienced in some communities, hence the need for communities to take precautionary measures to mitigate against flooding.

He added that flood prone communities were directed to move vulnerable groups such as women, children and elderly people to resettlement site and safer ground with immediate effect.

Mr Salihu disclosed that the agency had started receiving report of pockets of flash floods from some local government areas where farmlands had been washed away.

He directed the desk officers to establish synergy with local boat owners to enable the agency coordinate rescue operation and evacuation as well as provide relief palliatives in cases of emergency.

He also urged people in urban cities to avoid dumping of refuse in drains and culverts as well as desist from building structures on waterways to allow free flow of water.

He disclosed that the agency would meet with flood disaster response stakeholders to come up with flood emergency preparedness plan that would serve a guide to respond to flood emergency.

(NAN)