By Fatima Saka
The National Emergency Management Agency has called for people living in sloped areas to move to higher ground as the dangers of floods are impounding.
The spokesperson of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel expressed concern while speaking with Naturenews.africa Correspondent over the weekend in Abuja, said they will keep alerting the communities that are at detriment of flooding.
Mr. Ezekiel lamented that people need to know the problems knocking around them and be able to avert it or to reduce the impact of the disaster.
As the intensity of flooding increases across the globe mostly in Nigeria, rising levels of rivers, waste blocking the water way’s, poor drainage systems, all of these have its negative impact on the inhabitants and its dwellers suffer indescribable circumstances which has led to loss of life and prosperities.
He decried that in as much as flood remains one of the biggest disasters that happens annually in Nigeria, even across the globe.
He said NEMA as one of the agencies that coordinates disaster management in Nigeria, also works with other partner agencies in carrying out its mandate; the Nigerian meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
“NIMET provides a seasonal climate prediction, which is established in the annual rainfall and the condition of rain weather.
“NIHSA equipment establishes the level of groundwater collection, because flood is a function of water. hydrological implies, dealing with information that has to do with water movement and content.
According to the Spokesman of NEMA that they received copies of the seasonal climate prediction from NIMET, likewise the annual flood outlook from NHSA, whenever these very important forecasts are received, the agency calls together the stakeholders to a technical meeting.
He further revealed that afterwards NEMA writes a letter to all the state governments alerting them about these predictions and also advising them on what to do to avert flooding according to the speculation of the prediction relating it to those states involved across the country.
He added that NEMA has been embarking on hearing jingles on major television or radio stations across the country, to create awareness, and alert the people, and raise the consciousness of the people about floods.
Speaking on, he stated NEMA zonal offices across the country are holding stakeholders meetings as well, also embarking on advocacy within their areas of operation “Kwara state” for instance is under the operations of NEMA zonal office in Minna.
“I’m aware that they have held several meetings with the stakeholders within the zone.
“The purpose of the meeting is to bring together the stakeholders to escalate the forecast regarding the state, and also prepare the community on what to do to avert calamities of flooding.
“NEMA Ernest resources with partners towards managing disasters, they have also built a.robust partnership, by bringing together the first responder and alerting them of their roles.
“Secondly, the prepositioning relief material for deployment to people that may be at risk. But our concern is not food distribution or relief is distribution,” he stated.
