By Yemi Olakitan
No fewer than five people have died as a result of the flood, according to Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA).
In an interview conducted in Yola, the state capital, on Thursday, Dr. Suleiman Muhammad, the executive secretary of ADSEMA, disclosed that numerous residences and commercial buildings in the Fufore, Yola South, and Mubi South Local Government Areas had also been impacted by the flood.
In light of the recent closing of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, the executive secretary recommended residents of riverine settlements in the state to exercise increased caution.
In a recent meeting with stakeholders, the agency, asked inhabitants of villages at risk of flooding to leave and move to safer areas.
Muhammad stated that there were currently ongoing flood-related awareness efforts taking place in the state’s 21 local government units.
Residents of flood-prone areas are urged to follow strict guidelines provided by experts and they must exercise extreme caution.
“More rain is expected; we cannot yet declare the storm as ended. People need to be cautious,” he said.
Head of ADSEMA expressed the agency’s dedication to carrying out its responsibility of successfully managing emergency circumstances in the state.
As a part of preparations to lessen the effects of the impending flood, the Nasarawa State Government has instructed the activation of speed boats for the evacuation of citizens residing near riverine settlements.
The decision was stated in a press release by Mr. Zachary Allumaga, Director-General, Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), on Thursday in Lafia.
Cameroon recently informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in writing that it intended to open the Lagdo Dam floodgate.
According to the DG, the state government directed the activation of five speed boats provided to local government areas at risk of flooding for the evacuation drill in an effort to lessen the massive effects of the Lagdo Dam.
In order to avoid the loss of life and property seen during the flood episode in 2022, Allumaga urged the communities on the banks of the River Benue to temporarily leave their houses and relocate in the ensuing days.
He urged local government chairmen, development area overseers, traditional and religious leaders in the afflicted villages to persuade their followers to relocate to higher land.
“Flood prone LGAs have been instructed to rigorously abide by the precautions put in place by the state government through NASEMA to reduce flood damages. This is in response to the direction by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the frontline states about the opening of the floodgate of the Lagdo dam.
“NASEMA has ordered that five speed boats provided for five flood-prone local government areas be activated for the evacuation of residents from riverine settlements to the already specified high grounds in an effort to lessen the massive effects of Lagdo dam.
“In order to accomplish this, the agency is pleading with riverine communities to let go of misplaced notions of ancestral home and take the required actions to protect their lives, the lives of those they love, and their property,” he said.
Allumaga claimed that early this year, the agency had started a campaign to inform local populations along the banks of the River Benue and other flood-prone local government areas of the impending risk.
“As part of the agency’s mandate, it is charged with the duty to prevent and minimise disasters through raising public awareness, evacuating victims, and providing aid to those who have been affected by disasters.
“Other methods of raising public awareness about the risk of flooding that the agency uses include press conferences, press releases, interviews, and jingles to warn people not to farm or construct near streams.”