FG warns 34 states over impending flood disaster

THE Federal Government has advised state governments to ensure proactive measures are taken to address NiMet’s forecasts on heavy rainfalls and consequential flooding in the last part of 2020.

Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development gave the charge via a statement issued by Nneka Anibeze, her Special Adviser on Media.

She urged states with highly probable flood risk areas to identify high grounds for use as camps for the evacuation of possible Internally Displaced Persons and to shelter evacuated communities.

The minister said Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Rivers and Akwa Ibom including Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun, Abia, Kano, Kebbi and the FCT are states forecast to experience heavy rainfall and possible flooding.

While sympathising with the people of Kebbi, Bauchi and Jigawa states following heavy flooding in some areas which has led to loss of  lives and farmlands including displacement of many people, Farouq urged states to organise  humanitarian coordination fora to prepare all stakeholders for mitigation and response as well as request relief materials for prompt response after the flood.

“The recent flood incidences in parts of the state affirm the need for serious and urgent actions to be taken to safeguard lives and property against the predicted flood,” Farouq said.

“The 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and the Annual Flood Outlook forecasts flood situations for different parts of the country.”

“The Annual Flood Outlook forecasts that 102 Local Government Areas, in 28 states will have heavy rainfall while 275 local government areas in the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory will experience moderate  flooding,” she added.

According to the Minister, the remaining 397 local government areas fall within the low probable flood risk areas.

“Unfortunately, the predicted floods have started to occur in many parts of the country, including Bauchi, Kebbi and Jigawa states, therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as the season moves towards the peak.”

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The Minister also urged State Emergency Management Agencies, frontline Local Government Authorities and other response agencies to put in place precautionary actions by carrying out public enlightenment campaigns, ensuring the desilting of river channels and canals and removal of all refuse and weeds from water channels, drainages and all avenues for run offs so as to allow free flow of flood waters.

Farouq assured that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has taken note of this year’s prediction and will continue to work with stakeholders to mitigate the possible effects of the flooding.