By Egena Sunday Ode
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has advised residents of communities at risk of flooding across the country to take proactive measures to safeguard their lives and property as the rains intensify.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar said the current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding. She urged residents to heed early warning information issued by relevant government agencies and relocate to safer, higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding.
A statement signed by Manzo Ezekiel, Head of Press Unit, NEMA, said the Director General also advised members of the public to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels, and promptly report emergency situations to the appropriate authorities for timely response.
She stressed that preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season, the statement said.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar stated that NEMA’s Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices have been directed to intensify community-based awareness campaigns on flood preparedness, strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), traditional institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary.
She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to continuous monitoring of the flood situation across the country and to working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely response and the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected persons.
