NEMA orders emergency teams on red alert as flood threatens 15 states
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has activated its zonal directorates and operations offices across 15 states following a high-risk flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA.
The move came as rising river levels heightened the risk of riverine flooding in Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia states.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, directed the agency’s offices covering the affected states to immediately activate existing emergency preparedness mechanisms and remain on standby for possible response operations.
She also ordered the offices to intensify monitoring of vulnerable communities, maintain close coordination with state and local authorities and other response stakeholders, and be prepared to deploy assistance where necessary.
Umar’s directive followed a flood advisory by NIHSA warning of increased riverine flooding as river levels continue to rise in the affected areas.
The NEMA boss urged residents living on floodplains, riverbanks, low-lying communities and other flood-prone locations to take the warning seriously and relocate to identified safe and higher ground before conditions deteriorate.
She also called for special protection of vulnerable groups, including children, older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, during evacuation and other precautionary measures.
Umar further directed state and local government authorities to activate their emergency preparedness mechanisms and pre-position essential relief and rescue materials at strategic locations on higher ground.
Such materials, she said, should include food and non-food items, safe drinking water and water-treatment supplies, first-aid and medical materials, as well as rescue equipment needed for rapid intervention.
The NEMA director-general stressed that early action remained critical to reducing the potential impact of flooding on lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
She urged communities to cooperate with emergency management authorities and comply promptly with evacuation advisories whenever they are issued.
Umar also warned residents against attempting to cross flooded roads, bridges and fast-moving waters, either on foot or in vehicles, saying such actions could expose them to avoidable danger.
She advised residents in the affected areas to continue monitoring official flood warnings and updates from NEMA, NIHSA and other relevant government agencies.
NEMA, she said, would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with NIHSA, State Emergency Management Agencies and other stakeholders, while its response teams remain on standby to provide support wherever required.