Flooding: NEMA Advises Rivers, Bayelsa Residents To Relocate

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised residents of Rivers and Bayelsa states’ low-level grounds to relocate to higher ground over impending flooding in both states.
The Nigerian Metrological Institute (NIMET) recently forecasted flooding in 30 states across the country.
South-South Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Eric Ebhodaghe, in a remark at a news conference held on Friday, April 18, in Port Harcourt, stated that coastal states, including Bayelsa and Rivers, were likely to experience significant flooding during the current rainy season.
Ebhodaghe disclosed that NEMA had already begun preparing communities to reduce the impact of the flood, particularly as rainfall intensified in the affected states “by sensitising them, with the aim of minimising economic losses and protecting lives.”
He stated that following NIMET’s flood alert, NEMA initiated consultations with federal, state and local governments to coordinate mitigation efforts, adding: “In Rivers State, we have identified communities within various local government areas that are at high risk of flooding during the rainy season.
“We have been visiting these flood-prone communities to raise awareness and educate residents, ensuring that they take precautionary measures to avoid major losses.
“Although we cannot prevent the flooding, we can manage it, and encourage relocation to safe grounds within communities and to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.”
Ebhodaghe stressed that prevention was critical in disaster management, particularly in the context of flooding, saying a displaced persons camp had been established in each of the 15 local councils identified as highly vulnerable to flooding.
He noted: “We have also engaged with Community Development Committees (CDCs), youth leaders, traditional rulers and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to prepare for the flooding.
“The engagements are centred on improving local capacity to prevent and manage flooding through measures, such as proper waste management systems.”
He charged residents to ensure drainage systems were regularly cleared to allow the free flow of rainwater into natural channels, stating: “When the water channels are blocked, the water will inevitably find alternative routes.
“Therefore, if we adhere to responsible waste disposal and drainage maintenance, we will enhance our flood mitigation efforts.”