FEMA urges FCT residents to take flood warnings seriously
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has warned Abuja residents not to ignore weather forecast agencies’ early flood warnings.
The warning was issued by FEMA Director-General, Alhaji Abba Idriss, at the 2022 FEMA Annual Review and Preparedness Meeting, which was attended by over 250 local divers, community vanguards, flood rescue teams, and 50 town criers.
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He stated that the meeting took place at a time when weather forecasting agencies, particularly the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), are issuing serious flood warnings almost on a daily basis.
Idriss cited rising water levels in the country’s major rivers, particularly the Niger and Benue coupled with the threats coming from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
Idriss emphasised the need for residents to abide and obey the early warnings issued to them from time to time through the conventional methods and social media.
He said that as soon as the agency gets an early warning, it will disseminate the information so that people will take advantage of it.
He urged residents to ensure that they get information about the way they will pass through before leaving their homes, offices, and markets.
“The reason why we call for this meeting is first to alert our local divers, volunteers, vanguards, and town criers on the likelihood of flooding.”