NEMA alerts on imminent flood

[TGD]

 THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has released its Early Warning Information for 2013 alerting communities living on flood plains to relocate immediately or face the consequence.

The NEMA Director General Mohammand Sani-Sidi while reading out the implication of the Seasonal Rainfall Predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to reporters Monday in Abuja said that the prediction had shown that most of the states that witnessed flood in 2012 might again be flooded this year.

Of particular concern to the NEMA boss are states in the South-South, some in the North Central, including Sokoto, Kwara, Kebbi, Taraba, Niger, and Anambra, urging them to clear their waterways to ensure free flow of water.

He regretted that the agency spent about  N1.3 billion to manage the crisis caused by last year's flood, and to avoid a reoccurrence, he urged people living in flood plain areas to move to plain fields.

He said a survey carried out on the cause of the 2012 flooding revealed that most houses that were flooded were either built on waterways or flood plain areas, saying, "you will agree with me that most of the emergencies confronting us are human induced."

"It is on record that simple compliance to physical development regulations and the avoiding of construction of flood plains can go a long way in reducing the risk of flooding in both urban and rural areas of our communities", he added.

Sani-Sidi mentioned that the agency has started carrying out advocacy visits to affected state governments for them to relocate the vulnerable communities to avert the disaster that this year's seasonal rainfall may bring.

To ensure effective delivery of relief materials in affected areas, the NEMA boss revealed that the agency has put in place contingency plan, and have stockpile relief materials in all its six Zonal offices, mentioning that their priority now is to improve infrastructural capability by acquiring equipments, to enable their officers to effectively carry out their duty without inhibitions.

Lamenting that of the 774 local government in the country, only 24 has a functional emergency management agency; he stressed the need for state government to strengthen SEMAs both at the state and local government to boost their disaster management capabilities

He said, "there is little NEMA can do at the National level, because we are not the first responders, the first responders are the Nigerian Police, Fire Services, Federal Road Safety (FRSC), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Sani-Sidi, however, called for a close collaboration between all relevant stakeholders, disclosing that NEMA has already partnered with relevant Non-Governmental Organisation, and is closely working with volunteered members of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

NIMET, during the yearly rainfall forecast had predicted that some parts of the country may experience an unusual rainfall amount this year, which may lead to another flood disaster. The agency mentioned that normally there is likely to be a normal onset of rains in 2013 in most parts of the country, as the onset date would be between late February in the South, Mid April in the central part, and early June in the North.

The agency, however, warned that Dams that are likely to have excessive rainfall may overflow and collapse, causing loss of lives and livelihood as well as displacement of people, it warned that government should ensure that dam owners carry out proper operation and maintenance of water related infrastructure.

"In particular, all the major dams should be routinely monitored to ensure that the operation rule curve for the reservoir is adhered to and to detect weaknesses, if any, and repair as appropriate," it added.



The Guardian