Flood Alert: NOA Urges Anambra Residents in Riverrine Areas to Relocate

By Ikemefuna Asika

Residents of riverine communities in Anambra State have been advised to make plans to move to the higher grounds for safety of lives and property.

The advice was given by the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA), Mallam Lanre Omilliu when he visited Anambra State for flood safety sensitization programme.

The Director General was represented by the Director Planning , Research and Strategy, Abuja ,Nuru Kobi.

He called on the people living in riverine areas to immediately begin to stockpile essential emergency suppliers like Food, water, medicines, and first aid kits as well as evacuate from flood prone areas without further delay.

He noted that the Cameroonian authorities had started releasing the water since the 17th of September which has caused the water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue to increase , leading to flooding in some parts of the country already.

According to him, between 2012 and 2022, Nigeria lost over six hundred thousand people to flood incidents and over ten thousand houses submerged, majorly caused by the opening of the Lagdo dame.

Mallam Kobi remarked that the present administration has resolved not to allow people to experience the same negative impact hence the urgent need to sensitize rhe people to move to a safer side.

He revealed that the Cameroonian authorities at the moment were releasing five million cubic meters of water daily which invariably translates to rapid increase of the rivers in Nigeria.

While observing that most times the flood incident begins at night, the Director General advised them to place priority on women and children as the agency was taking proactive measures to ensure safety of all.

Earlier, the Director, National Orientation Agency, Anambra state, Mr Edozie Ajaegbu said they were already on ground in all the local government areas usually flooded , using Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers to educate the people on how to navigate in the case of any flood incident .

Speaking on behalf of the Presidents General of Ogbaru Local government area, the President General of Ohita Community, Chief Emma Obi said the people in the area had continued to witness flooding as farmlands and houses were being submerged gradually.

Chief Obi while commending the agency for the early warnings and sensitization, appealed to the Federal government to consider finding lasting solution to the natural disaster including construction of dams and creating embankments on the river banks.

It will be recalled that Cameroonian authorities recently informed Nigeria that the Lagdo Dam is overflowing and as a result could cause significant flooding and environmental damage in some parts of the country.

This prompted the National Orientation Agency, NOA to begin to alert the populace, especially those living along the banks of Rivers Niger, Benue among others.