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By Oboh Linus, Lafia
Nasarawa Government has warned residents of riverine communities to evacuate from the flood high-risk areas to avert loss of lives and livelihoods in the event of flooding.
Barrister Benjamin Akwash, Director General, Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), gave the warning on Wednesday in Lafia.
According to him, the warning becomes necessary following the latest flash flood alert issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which is expected to happen in 19 states including Nasarawa.
The NiMet has warned Sokoto, Nasarawa, Lagos, and 16 other states to experience flash flood risks in July due to increasing rainfall.
According to the release, a high-risk state is Sokoto, with notable states to include: Nasarawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River.
Akwash advised residents to prioritise their safety above the long-held beliefs in ancestral homes and move to high ground to safeguard their lives, property, and livelihoods.
“We are reiterating what we told them during early warning sensitisation to evacuate from the flood risk areas. We are specifically appealing to riverine communities to evacuate.
“We can’t let our people gamble with their lives, If we had gone round to sensitise them on early warning and again we are receiving another warning on an impending flash flood in our state, then it behoves on them to take it seriously.
“Natural disasters do not give a warning, date, or time. Once again, we call on people to move to the high ground where they will be safe, and stay alive to continue with their livelihoods,” he advised.
The NASEMA boss said the agency was looking ahead to procure speed boats and canoes, along with other safety kits to help in facilitating the evacuation of people from flood risk areas to safer ground in the event of flooding.
“Before I assumed office, the agency acquired some speed boats which were distributed to riverine communities in the 4 flood-prone local government areas.
“We are going to go round to inspect them to ascertain their condition, If they are not in good condition, we will hastily reactivate them in readiness for the alert so that by the time it happens it will not take us unaware,” he said.
Akwash, while warning residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainage and building on waterways, urged them to take precautions seriously to mitigate the potential impacts of flooding on their lives.
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