The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged residents of flood-prone communities across Nigeria to relocate to safer locations and take proactive measures to protect lives and property as the rainy season intensifies.
Mrs. Umar said the current period of heavy rainfall requires the activation of community-level flood preparedness measures to minimise the impact of flooding and prevent avoidable disasters.
She advised residents to heed early warning information issued by relevant government agencies, relocate to higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding, 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.
According to the NEMA Director-General, preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways to prevent the loss of lives and reduce the devastating impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season.
To strengthen flood preparedness, Umar said NEMA’s Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices have been directed to intensify community awareness campaigns, enhance collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders, and coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary.
She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to closely monitoring the flood situation across the country and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure prompt emergency response and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
