NEMA raises red alert on flooding in 8 states

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued an alert over imminent flooding in eight states falling along River Niger banks.

It has therefore, alerted those resident 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.

A statement personally signed by NEMA director general, Engr  Mustapha Maihaja FNSE recalled that Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had in March through their hydrological outlook predicted possibility of flood affecting many states.

He said following these warnings, 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 27 states have experienced very devastating flood disaster.

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“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 seven days.

“The Orange Alert is the second most severe category in measurement. In the light of the above the Agency organised a flood coordination forum held Wednesday, September 13, 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.”

Maihaja however gave the assurance that NEMA is ready for possible 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 for effective evacuation of the communities.”