The National Emergency Management Agency has raised the alarm on imminent flooding disasters in the country, calling for adequate preparation.
The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, South West Zone, Suleiman Yakubu, said reports from the National Hydrological Services Agency projected that there would be major flooding in many parts of the country.
He spoke on Thursday at a stakeholders’ forum tagged, ‘Flood Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness in the South West.’
He said, “With the current rise in water level in the River Niger area and increased persistent rainfall, Nigeria may experience flood disasters higher than that of 2012.”
The spokeperson for NEMA, South West Zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the agency’s Director-General, Mustapha Maihaja, had set up six committees to monitor situations around the country, adding that all federal and state agencies had been put on red alert.
“As of yesterday (Wednesday), what we have is 10.16 milimeter of water increase in River Niger. So, we are putting stakeholders on red alert in case there is anything. Some communities in Taraba State have been evacuated and more people may be evacuated if the situation gets worse.
“It is important for parents to warn their children not to play in the rain. School authorities should avoid releasing pupils when there are threats of rainfall,” he stated. PUNCH
