The Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Anambra State, has urged residents of riverine communities to relocate, saying that they should avoid this year’s flooding.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo, made this appealed on Tuesday in Anambra, during an early warning interactive sensitization meeting for flood prone local government areas in the state.
The event tagged “Make We Stop Flood Before Flood Go Finish Us” sensitized the people on the dangers of irregular waste disposal and the importance of regular clearing of water channels.
Speaking at the various council areas visited, Chief Odenigbo said the visit is a collaborative movement to mitigate and avert losses of life and property through adequate coordination and to issue early warning.
He referred to the February 17 Annual Flood Outlook for the year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet),as the foundation for their planning.
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Odenigbo pointed out that it is high time riverine communities embarked on annual care of their farms through early planting and harvesting, caring for their environment, building on government approved areas, relocation of valuable properties and ensuring good health conditions before, during and after the rainy season.
The SEMA boss also advised all relevant frontline responders to intensify their efforts to carry out early warnings targeting vulnerable communities and evacuation to higher grounds for safety.
Recalling on last year flooding, the Transition Committee Chairmen for Anambra West, Mr. Felix Okechi and his Anambra East counterpart, Dr Anselm Onuorah recalled the suffering the residents undergo during flooding including loss of lives and properties, farm produce among others and promised to carry out the campaign for early preparation to all the nooks and crannies of the communities.
The traditional ruler of Umumbo, Igwe Ikechukwu Chidubem and his Nzam counterpart, Igwe Joseph Azokwu insisted that it will be right for the federal government to build permanent internally displaced persons camps and warehouses closer to the people as many are afraid of leaving their homes.
They also called for the dredging of River Niger as solutions to mitigate the annual disaster.
