RSG Braces For Rainstorm, Floods …As NEMA Recruits 10,500 Volunteers In Three States

The Rivers State Government says it will station six flying boats in each of the flood prone local government areas of the State and a marine ambulance at the Orashi River for prompt evacuation of the inhabitants following this year’s flood prediction by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Addressing participants at the flag-off of the flood sensitisation campaign organised by the Ministry of Special Duties at Ahoada East and Ahoada West council secretariat, Special Duties Commissioner, Barr Dickson Umunakwe said the programme was aimed at enlightening people on steps to take before, during and after the flood.

Barr Umunakwe enjoined them to apply the lessons learnt from the programme so as to minimise the loss and impact associated with flooding including loss of lives and recalled that the ministry had earlier embarked on flood alert campaign through the use of jingles in radio, television and billboards.

While expressing sadness over the impact of last year’s flood on the victims, the special duties boss assured that the government through its Housing Ministry would assist those whose houses were destroyed by the disaster with building materials to erect their houses.

Corroborating, the concern  South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Emenike Umesi represented by the Desk Officer, Mr Dennis Egwu noted that the flood sensitization will help to build community resilience, and urged the community leaders as well as their flood committee chairmen to identify higher grounds in their various communities for easier emergency evacuation.

Mr Egwu hinted that going by the agency’s flood prediction, heavy rains would set in the month of October and December and appealed to the farmers in the area to harvest their farming produce from August.

On her part, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dame Mina Benebo while likening flood as a thief that does not give signals before its occurrence, called for safe keeping of vital documents including birth certificates, land documents before the flood set in and to use the ministry’s help lines in the advent of any emergency.

In their various responses, Chairmen of Ahoada East LGA, Hon Ikegbidi Cassidy represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Mr Heyford  Aggrey and its Ahoada West counterpart, Hon Awori Miller represented by Mr Wisdom Ade commended the ministry for the sensitisation campaign and assured of synergizing with the Ministry to make their effort succeed.

The event featured interactive sessions, distribution of flyers and leaflets entitled ‘Dos and Don’ts of Flood’.

The flood sensitisation campaign continues at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas next Thursday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recruited 10,500 volunteers in three flood-prone states to serve as first respondents to disasters to minimise losses in case of flooding.

Malam Mohammed AbdulSalam, NEMA Coordinator, North-Central, told  reporters in Jos yesterday that, 4,000 volunteers had been recruited in Benue, 3,500 in Plateau and 3,000 in Nasarawa State.

The three states suffered massive flooding that claimed several lives and destroyed livestock, farms, houses and other properties last year.

NIMET has warned of more rains this year and the high possibility of even worse floods in the areas that suffered the disaster last year.

A breakdown of the recruitment showed that Toto and Loko, two local governments in Nasarawa State, situated along River Benue, have 1,500 volunteers each.

Five local governments in Benue – Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Logo and Gwer share the 4,000 recruits while in Plateau, Wase, Shendam, Kanam, Mikang, Jos North, Langtang North and South local governments have 500 each.

AbdulSalam said that NEMA had trained the recruits and procured equipment they would require to carry out their duties.

He said that NEMA would soon sign an MOU with INEC toward getting boats to ferry people to safety during the floods.

“We have also contacted local fishermen to be on stand-by as they would be contacted to help in rescue missions as part of our proactive steps to avoid the calamity that took us unawares last year,’’ he said.

He said that NEMA had also procured lots of relief materials, while workshops were also being held to prepare people for the worst scenario.

Abdulsalam said that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the nation from another destruction, and described what happened last year as ‘just unbelievable.’

“The effects of the floods were severe. It affected seven million people and killed 363 of them.

“It also displaced 2.5 million people and destroyed houses, farms, livestock and assorted property worth N2.6 trillion,’’ he said.

The NEMA official said that proactive steps had been intensified through radio jingles in all languages, especially during the peak period of the rains between August and October coming soon.

“We are taking nothing for granted and leaving nothing to chance. We have met religious and traditional rulers and have been collaborating with them in those proactive steps.

“We have also asked people living along waterways and river banks to change their abodes to avoid any disaster,’’ he added.

L-R: Speaker, Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Czech Republic, Ms Miroslava Nemcova, Senate President David Mark, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. Chris Anyanwu and Nigeria’s Ambassador To Czech Republic, Ms Catherine Okon, during the Senate President’s visit to the Czech Parliament in Prague last Wednesday