Flood: Again NEMA warns communities along River Niger

The National Emergency Management Agency has alerted the general public, particularly those residents along the River Niger and its tributaries in Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Imo, Rivers and Bayesla states of very high risk of catastrophic flooding in coming days and weeks.

The agency said in a statement:

“Following this year’s seasonal rainfall forecast by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in March 2017 and hydrological outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) of possible flood that will affect many States of the Federation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) sent out alert warning to the identified States and called them to scale-up their preparedness to avert imminent consequences.

“As a result of this, already twenty seven (27) States have experienced very devastating flood disaster.

“There again is another alert of an emergency warning from the Niger Basin Authority ( an intergovernmental  organisation in West Africa aiming to foster cooperation in managing and developing the resources of the basin of the River Niger) and confirmed by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) of the rising water levels in Niger which has been at “Orange Alert level” consistently for the past 7 days. The Orange Alert is the second most severe category in measurement.

 NEMA, however, said it was ready to provide necessary support in case of an emergency.

“In the light of the above, the Agency organized a flood coordination forum held today 13th September 2017 and is, therefore, calling on the general public in the aforementioned areas to move to higher grounds and the respective state governments to engage in sensitization, evacuation, and preparation for possible flooding.

“However, NEMA wishes to confirm its readiness in emergency response. Its Emergency Response Teams have been placed on high alert in the areas to coordinate all possible emergency response activities and assist relevant stakeholders in the effective evacuation of the communities.”