The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has advised state governments to take mitigative measures to address forecasts on heavy rainfalls and consequential flooding.
The minister Sadiya Umar Farouq, urged states with flood risk areas to identify high grounds for use as camps for the evacuation of possible Internally Displaced Persons and to shelter evacuated communities.
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 properties against the predicted flood.”
“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.”
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.
The Minister 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.
