By Chinyere Nwoye/Chisom Okpala :
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA flagged off an emergency campaign tagged, ‘Early Warning Strategies to the Grassroots level for Effective and Efficient Reaction to Flood Incidents’ in Anambra state.
While commending the initiative, the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim thanked the Federal Government and NEMA for the various interventions and assistance to the state during flood outbreaks and other emergencies.
The governor intimated the NEMA Boss in the state, Dr. Zubaida Umar of the various efforts already being put in place by the state to control flood disaster which included proper channeling of water ways, sensitization of the people on the need to be environment friendly as wells as other numerous environmental interventions.
The Director General of NEMA, Dr. Zubaida Umar while performing the flag off in Awka, said that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the impact of the predicted flood incident for 2024 is mitigated with proper measures put in place.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) through the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) respectively have provided forecasts on floods and other hydro-meteorological hazards in Nigeria during the 2024 rainy season.
The NEMA Director General, Dr. Umar added that in furtherance to the engagements on disaster risk reduction and the provisions of relief support to the most vulnerable individuals in the state, NEMA had decided to intense on its efforts to make sure that a continuous support and cooperation especially through the Anambra SEMA is advocated.
The DG commended the state government on its readiness to give special attention to disaster risk reductions and the provisions of sustainable development for the benefits of the populace.
“The rapid transformation of Anambra state across all indices of human development in the past years is no doubt worthy of commendation and emulation by others,” he said.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo on his own said that ten Local Government Areas of the state have been marked as the most dangerous areas to be attacked by the impending flood disasters this year.
The areas according to Chief Odenigbo are Anambra East, Anambra West, Awka North, Ayamelum, Ekwusigo, Idemili South, Ihiala, Ogbaru Onitsha North and Onitsha South LGAs.
He, nevertheless, implored the riverine and near stream dwellers to be ready to move to higher lands once they noticed an unusual rise in the water level of the area.
“Anambra has 27 holding centres to accommodate and take care of the needs of persons that might be displaced, and I believe that the NEMA DG is ever ready as usual to lend helping hands to the state at the hour of its great needs,” he said.
Notable persons present at the flag off include the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Festus Odimegwu and his Power and Public Utility counterpart, Mr. Julius Chukwuemeka, traditional rulers, Presidents General, Religious leaders and Youth leaders.
*Chinyere is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*
