By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management’s Agency (NEMA) has launched extensive preparations for the evacuation of flood-prone communities across Nigeria’s South-South region, following predictions of severe flooding in 2025.
Speaking in Calabar, Cross River State, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, Head of NEMA’s Uyo Operations Office, said assessments have begun in vulnerable areas to evaluate their evacuation readiness.
The agency is coordinating efforts with stakeholders in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.
Measures taken include drain desilting, sensitisation campaigns, and partnerships with radio stations to broadcast flood alerts in local languages.
NEMA has also initiated a “National Preparedness Campaign” and engaged the military’s 6th Battalion for emergency support.
In Akwa Ibom, Commissioner for Environment Moses Osogi revealed that the government had preemptively desilted drains and increased the number of receptacle bins in partnership with the NDDC to combat improper waste disposal, a key contributor to flooding.
A task force has also been set up to enforce waste disposal regulations.
Meanwhile, in Rivers and Bayelsa, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Eric Ebhodaghe, confirmed the agency’s 90% preparedness. Early warning systems, flood simulations, and stakeholder collaborations are among the strategies employed.
IDP camps have been identified, and emergency services are on high alert.
Environmental experts have advised residents to avoid dumping refuse in drains and refrain from building in flood-prone areas.
NEMA and local authorities continue to stress the importance of behavioral change in flood mitigation.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has also directed the desilting of flooded areas and road construction efforts to improve water flow, alongside instituting a monthly environmental sanitation program.
These coordinated efforts are part of a broader strategy to reduce the human and infrastructural impact of predicted floods in the region.
