NEMA, OTHERS SET UP MACHINERY TO RESPOND TO IMPENDING FLOODING IN THREE SOUTH EAST STATES

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and its counterparts,
which includes, The Nigeria Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological
Services Agency in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states said they have set up
machinery to respond to the impending floods in the zone.
This comes as the Nigeria Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological
Services Agency issued fresh warnings about possible flooding in about 19
states in the country and called for preparedness to prevent the disaster.
According to reports, NEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency and
other stakeholders have taken proactive measures, including sensitizing the
public across the zone on how to mitigate flooding if it happens.
In Anambra, the state government says it has set up about 16 Holding Centers
for possible victims of flooding in the state. The Executive Secretary of Anambra
State Emergency Management Agency, Paul Odenigbo,said the centres were
located in Ogbaru, Aguleri and Ifite Ogwari in Anambra East and Ayamelum
Local Government Areas.
Odenigbo said the Agency had continued to sensitize residents in the flood
exposed communities and trained local people on emergency response skills.
The Executive Secretary, who said the flood was imminent, expressed worry
over the reluctance of the people to vacate their homes in spite of several
warnings.
He, however, said that ANSEMA and NEMA were intensifying their partnership
to reduce the negative impact of flooding on the people in riverine communities
when it eventually happened.
In response to the anticipated flooding, key stakeholders in Ebonyi have also
taken a proactive approach through stakeholder engagement.
Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency,
Clement Ovuoba, said that the measures were implemented through
sensitization campaigns and town hall meetings to educate residents on flood
mitigation best practices.
He highlighted some local governments easily submerged by flood to include
Abakaliki, Izzi, Ikwo, Ebonyi and Ivo.