Flooding: NEMA asks south-south states to relocate communities at risk

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says communities at risk of flooding in Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River states need to be relocated to safer grounds.

According to NAN, Godwin Tepikor, NEMA south-south zonal coordinator, said this on Thursday at a conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital.

He said state emergency management agencies in the three states should prepare adequately for flood predictions as well as intensify efforts to mitigate the impact of the flooding.

Tepikor also called on state governments to make food, water, security and other basic needs available for persons who could be displaced in the process.

“State emergency management agencies should intensify efforts to move communities that are at risk to higher grounds,” he said.

“They should identify safe, higher grounds for evacuation of persons and to position platforms like boats that will assist in the evacuation of people at risk.

“We cannot do enough until the flood has come and gone, but it is imperative that we intensify efforts so that the impact of the flooding will be mitigated as soon as possible.”

He added that NEMA had taken its advocacy to communities by engaging with chiefs, community development committees, youths, and women so that they will be informed and prepared.

Flooding accelerated by climate change has been sweeping communities in Nigeria, causing deaths, loss of homes, livelihoods and displacement of many.

Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA director-general, had on Monday said over 300 persons have been killed, while 100,000 others have been displaced by flood in 2022.

He asked relevant frontline responders to intensify preparedness efforts and evacuation in vulnerable communities.