The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has intensified its efforts to mitigate the impact of flooding in Nigeria, particularly in 15 high-risk states.
The agency has deployed its officials to these states to further enlighten residents on the impending floods and the need to relocate from flood-prone areas.
This move comes on the heels of a devastating flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger State, which claimed over 200 lives and left hundreds missing.
According to NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, the agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, visited the flood site within 24 hours of the incident, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to providing care and support to affected communities.
Ezekiel attributed the disaster to the fact that many victims lived in gully areas prone to flooding, despite official warnings.
He emphasized that Nigeria has many places at risk of flooding, citing the 2024 Maiduguri flooding as an example, and urged communities to be on alert and take necessary steps to forestall similar disasters.
NEMA has escalated its anti-flooding advocacy nationwide, conducting in-person training on emergency healthcare and evacuation procedures in collaboration with state agencies.
The agency’s efforts aim to prepare communities for potential floods and minimize the impact of such disasters.
The Federal Government has ramped up efforts to mitigate the impact of flooding, working closely with state governments and emergency agencies.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has dispelled reports that water released from Kainji and Jebba Dams caused the flooding in Mokwa, attributing the disaster to heavy rainfall and unregulated construction activities that blocked an ephemeral tributary of River Dingi.
As the rainy season continues, NEMA’s efforts aim to prepare communities for potential floods and minimize the impact of such disasters.
The agency’s collaboration with state-run agencies has been hailed as “overwhelming,” but Ezekiel called for more support from political actors to effectively address the challenge.