NEMA Urges Adherence To Flood Warnings

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday in Lagos State warned Nigerians against non-adherence to the 2013 flood warnings.

The Information Officer, South-West Zone of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, who gave the warning in a statement, said that non-adherence was an invitation to disaster.

Farinloye advised Nigerians to take the forecast seriously by embarking on last minute measures against anything that could worsen the risk of the predicted heavy rain.

“The other tiers of government are closer to the grassroots and they are expected to mobilise the people towards mitigation actions of the fallout of heavy rainfall.”

The NEMA spokesman said that the agency had embarked on an independent exercise to monitor the state of preparedness of stakeholders for the challenges of climate change.

Farinloye said that NEMA had mobilised all critical stakeholders in the three tiers of government, the private sector, individuals and NGOs after the 2013 rainfall prediction.

“In the South/West Geopolitical Zone, the prediction revealed that Saki and Ibadan in Oyo State, Ondo and Akure in Ondo State, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun are expected to experience excessive rainfall,” he said.

He said that local governments were expected to embark on massive mobilisation of residents while the drains and infrastructure that might impede free flow of rainwater had been cleared.

“It was observed that the excessive down pour in Saki and Oke/Ogun in Oyo State, will flow to Ajegunle and Majidun settlements along Ikorodu, Lagos State.

“NEMA’s assessment around these areas especially at Ajegunle revealed that the people are not prepared for the risks as all the drains and water channels are still blocked.

“The whole areas are located in flood plain area while the present road construction is putting hazards on the communities as the creation of craters in some residential areas are worrisome,” he said.

He commended the Ondo State Government for installing flood alarm systems at strategic locations in the state and advised that residents should be sensitised on the significance and the use of the system.

“Lagos State Government has tried in the emergency flood abatement activities but residents should comply with rules by not dumping waste in drains and water channels.’’

Farinloye, however, said that corporate organisations should contribute their quota in risk reduction and reducing the negative impact of predicted excessive rainfall since disasters did not discriminate.

Also the North West Zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday in Birnin Kebbi began training its personnel to handle any flooding in the area in the wake of increasing rainfall.

The Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Malam Musa Ilallah, who addressed participants at the training session, said the training comprised of “mitigation and response measures that could assist in flood disaster cases.

He said the measure was also in response to predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) of the expected heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding.

According to Ilallah, “the populace will be guided on preparations for flood” at the training sessions.

The one day training workshop has its theme as “Flood Preparedness and Strengthening Mechanism for Community-based Early Warning System”.

“The public would be enlightened on early warning, on severity of impending disaster, damage to property and loss of lives”.

“The primary targets would be people identified to be residing along flood prone areas as well as what to do during and after rainfall,” he said.

A senior of the agency, Mr Simon Katu, said the agency would collaborate with local government councils, traditional and religious leaders.

The state was among those identified by NIMET that could experience heavy rainfall, leading to flooding resulting in flood.

The state had experienced flooding in the past three years that claimed lives and destroyed farmlands and settlements, among other property.