The governments of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have activated emergency response measures and evacuation plans to mitigate the impact of predicted flooding during the rainy season.
According to NAN, officials of the states’ emergency
management agencies spoke in separate interviews on Wednesday.
The measures reportedly followed flood forecasts issued by
the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological
Services Agency (NIHSA) warning 17 states of an impending flooding.
Yagana Ali-Abadam, director of administration at the Borno
State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the state government had
constituted a flood preparedness committee comprising NiMet, the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Borno State Environmental Protection
Agency (BOSEPA), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
She said the committee was established as part of a broader
disaster risk reduction strategy to minimise flood impacts.
Ali-Abadam said residents of flood-prone communities in
Dikwa had recently been evacuated to safer locations, while relief materials
were being distributed to victims of previous floods in Kala Balge.
She added that drainage channels had been cleared in
Maiduguri, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Ajilari Cross, Kopa and
Bulumkutu-Dala.
“We are currently expanding drainage systems and clearing
blocked waterways to reduce the impact of flooding,” she said.
Ali-Abadam said public sensitisation campaigns were also
ongoing through the media and community outreach.
In Yobe, Ibrahim Jalo, director of search and rescue
operations at the state emergency management agency, said real-time river
monitoring and digital community reporting platforms had been deployed in
flood-prone areas.
He said safe locations had been identified for possible
evacuations, while local government area early warning and action committees
had been activated and trained.
Jalo added that the state government had approved relief
materials for 50,000 households and food supplies for 10,000 households.
He said 7,400 sandbags had also been earmarked for
embankment projects in vulnerable communities, while emergency response
materials had been pre-positioned in Damaturu, Potiskum and Geidam.
The agency identified 12 high-risk LGAs, including Gujba,
Damaturu, Bursari, Geidam, Yunusari, Fika, Potiskum, Jakusko, Bade, Gulani,
Karasuwa and Machina.
Jalo urged residents to heed early warning messages and
cooperate with emergency officials during evacuation exercises.
In Adamawa, Celine Laori, executive secretary of the state
emergency management agency (ADSEMA), said flood response committees had been
activated in all 21 LGAs.
She added that the state government had commenced desilting
major drainage channels in Yola north, Yola south and Jimeta.
Laori identified Fufore, Yola south, Girei, Yola north,
Demsa, Numan and Lamurde as high-risk areas, adding that safe locations had
been designated in each of the communities.
She said the agency was collaborating with radio stations to
broadcast flood awareness messages in Hausa, Fulfulde and other local
languages, while town hall meetings were being held in vulnerable communities.
“We are telling people to avoid building on waterways, clear
their drainages, and relocate early when they receive warnings. Early warning
is key to saving lives,” she said.
Laori added that the agency had procured relief materials,
including food items, tents, mattresses and medicines, to support emergency
response efforts.
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