Imo govt advises flood-prone communities to be alert

Imo State Government has charged flood-prone communities in the state to be vigilant and report any unusual rise of rivers within the boundaries of the state to appropriate authorities.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Social Development and Humanitarian Services, Mrs Calista Ahmed, gave the advice on Monday when she paid a visit to some flood-prone communities in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state.

She warned against building houses on the waterway and urged those living in flood endangered areas to consider relocating to safer ground.

She said the early warning visit was in preparation for the Federal Government prediction, where Imo was enlisted among states prone to heavy flooding in 2021.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Water Resources had recently released the 2021 annual flood outlook and listed Imo among 27 states prone to heavy flooding in 2021.

Nigeria Tribune gathered that flood-related disaster has been a yearly occurrence in Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema LGA, with no fewer than 30 houses submerged in 2020.

Ahmed said her focus was to ensure that prone communities were not caught unaware by the prediction in 2021, adding that she would continue to liaise with prone communities to avert the likely disaster.

She said: “In a bid to assist Governor Uzodinma’s administration to succeed, I have taken the campaign against flooding and early warning measures to prone communities.”

She also advised disaster managers to remain alert in case of any emergency, while also commending the governor for showing interest in the welfare of the less privileged Imo.

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