Anambra asks residents of flood-prone communities to relocate

The Anambra state government has asked residents of flood-prone communities to relocate to safer areas.

Paul Nwosu, the information commissioner, said the directive was prompted by warnings of heavy rainfall and flooding by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Nwosu said LGAs at high risk of flooding include Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Awka North, Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala.

He urged the elderly, women, and children to move to the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps set up by Chukwuma Soludo, the state governor.

The commissioner said the state’s flood response committee, in partnership with SEMA, will issue additional advisories to communities in flood-prone areas and provide guidance on appropriate actions.

He asked the local government chairmen and community leaders to implement measures to prevent casualties.

The federal government had warned that 148 LGAs in 31 states were at risk of severe flooding from April to November 2024.

On August 15, NEMA said flooding has displaced 227,494 people and damaged 32,837 houses in 27 states this year.

The agency added that flood disasters damaged 16,488 hectares of farmlands in the affected states.