National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised residents living in flood-prone communities across twenty-seven (27) Nigerian states to start relocating.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency issued the warning through a statement released by its spokesman, Mr Manzo Ezekiel on Thursday.
NEMA also reported that the floods caused significant damage to 32,837 homes and 16,488 hectares of farmland.
It added that mobilised search and rescue teams are distributing essential relief supplies in partnership with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs).
The agency said, “27 states in Nigeria have been impacted by recent floods, affecting 227,494 individuals and damaging 32,837 houses and 16,488 hectares of farmland.”
“NEMA is conducting assessments and deploying relief items to support affected communities.”
Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, emphasised urgency for communities in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as rainy season drew nearer.
Umar also called for increased public awareness of proper waste management to help prevent future flooding.
She said, “The agency emphasises the importance of public awareness on waste management to prevent flooding and advises at-risk communities to relocate to safer areas.”
Zubaida reassured farmers about the temporary dry season, pointing out that it would soon pass.
She also urgesmd leaders and stakeholders to implement rapid response measures to mitigate the ongoing flood threats.
