From Our Correspondent, Awka
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has called on community and opinion leaders, women and youths to support proactive measures to avert negative impacts of flood during the rainy season.
Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, made the call at the flag-off of the ‘2024 Flood Early Warnings Sensitisation’ exercise on Wednesday, in Awka, Anambra State.
TheNewsZenith reports that NEMA and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) jointly organised the consultation programme.
Umar said that Anambra State fell under the 31 states at risk of high and moderate flood.
This is based on the rainfall and flood advisories in the 2024 ‘Seasonal Climate Prediction’ and ‘Annual Flood Outlook’.
NEMA DG spoke on the need for collaboration to safeguard communities at risk.
She also called for the protection of critical infrastructure and support of uninterrupted socio-economic activities in Anambra.
“Recent, flooding caused loss of lives and destruction of means of livelihood and infrastructure, amounting to billions of Naira.
“The devastating impacts of flood over the years, especially in 2012 and 2022, served as a wakeup call and the reason for this early warning alerts.
“Management of disaster is hinged on community participation, leaving no one behind.
“We must take actions that will drastically reduce the adverse impacts of flood.
“Public and private institutions, humanitarian and non-governmental organisations must leverage on these early warnings to support the government efforts,” she said.
Also speaking, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, said erosion and flooding had become an existential threat to the state. He said it required the intervention of the Federal Government.
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The Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, represented the governor at the programme.
He said the state government had developed a work plan to mitigate the impact of flooding.
“We thank NEMA for picking Anambra state for the flag-off of this year’s flood early warning sensitisation.
“In the short term, the state government has commenced infrastructural interventions.
“These include expansion and desilting of drains, as well as terminating drains into the streams.
“The state government is prepared for the emergencies and ready to work with NEMA to reduce the impacts of the recurring floods.
“This is to safeguard the lives and property of our people,” the Governor said.
In his remarks, Igwe Pius Omachonu of Olumbanasa in Anambra West urged the government to prioritise post-disaster interventions.
He said this is necessary to support survivors and help them resettle.
“During the 2022 flood disaster, after leaving the displaced persons camps, we did not get any form of counselling, palliative or relief.
“We beg the government not to allow such to happen again,” Omachonu said.
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