July 23, (THEWILL) – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has appealed to those who are living in flood-prone areas in nine local government areas of Borno State, to start relocating now to save lives and property.
The agency also urged religious and traditional leaders to counsel residents of impending floods, call for immediate clearing of debris in water bodies by relevant authorities to prevent blockages and the creation of detention dams.
Acting Zonal Coordinator, North-East office, Surajo Garba, disclosed while speaking with newsmen during a sensitisation workshop on effective waste management and flood management in Borno State, held in Maiduguri.
He urged that communities should relocate to higher grounds before flooding starts.
According to predictions and the outlook released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), nine LGAs will be pounded by flood this year in the state.
“The NiMET weather prediction is almost one hundred per cent correct”, he said before asking those residing on low-lying grounds to move to higher grounds for safety. This forecast should be taken seriously, and those residing in prone areas should begin to relocate to high grounds, we are appealing to them.
“Nine LGAs include Maiduguri, Kaga, Mobar, Bama, Abadam, Ngala, Kala-Balge, Dikwa and Jere respectively”, he said.
He said NEMA, SEMA, BOSEPA and other partners are working to safeguard lives and property and provide necessary sensitisation to communities in the state.
Also, the permanent secretary Ministry of Environment, Dr Julianna Bitrus said the cleaning of drainages should be left to the government alone, it must be everybody’s business.
“It has always been our call, especially during this rainy season to tell people that the cleanness of the environment must be left with the government and taken care of waste disposal must be everybody’s business, it is our responsibility to take off our drainages to avoid flood and everybody must be involved in this.”
Stakeholders at the workshop include traditional rulers, religious leaders, SEMA, BOSEPA, local NGOs and other partners.
