Flood: SEMA renews call on riverine communities to prepare for relocation

THE Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA has renewed its clarion call on residents of flood-prone communities to brace for relocation to Emergency or Holding Centers located in ten local government areas in the state.

In a statement in Awka, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo explained that his clarion call was predicated on the tested Alert issued in Abuja by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, about imminent flood disaster in six states in the country including Anambra State.

Chief Odenigbo said communities most likely to be affected in the state are in the Anambra East and West, Ogbaru, Onitsha North and South as well as Ayamelum Local Government areas.

Other flood prone communities are located in Ekwusigo, Ihiala, Awka North and Idemili South Local Government Areas.

The SEMA boss, however, reiterated that the state government is prepared to give succour to likely victims of the predicted deluge. He stressed the need for residents of riverine communities in the state not to take the warning of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency for granted pointing out that prevention is better than cure.

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Odenigbo emphasised that credible reports indicate that the Kainji and Jebba Dams in Northern Nigeria as well as Lagbo Dam in Cameroon are presently overflowing their Dikes, pointing out that water level of the River Niger in Lokoja in Kogi state has exceeded their limits.

The Executive Secretary insisted that NIHSA’s Red Alert on imminent flooding in ommunities’ bordering the River Niger should not be taken lightly by residents of such areas.