The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a stern warning to residents of flood-prone communities in 27 Nigerian states, urging them to relocate immediately as the country faces severe flooding.
The floods have already caused extensive damage, affecting 227,494 individuals, destroying 32,837 homes, and damaging 16,488 hectares of farmland, according to a statement released by NEMA on Thursday.
Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA’s spokesperson, disclosed the devastating impact of the floods and emphasized the agency’s ongoing efforts to provide relief and support to affected communities.
NEMA, in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), has mobilized search and rescue teams and is distributing essential relief supplies to those in need.
“NEMA is conducting assessments and deploying relief items to support affected communities,” the statement read.
The agency is actively working to mitigate the damage and provide assistance to the thousands of Nigerians affected by the floods.
Zubaida Umar, NEMA’s Director-General, highlighted the urgency for communities in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as the rainy season continues.
“As the rainy season progresses, we strongly advise communities at risk to relocate to safer areas to avoid further devastation,” she said.
In addition to the immediate response, Umar stressed the importance of public awareness and proper waste management practices to prevent future flooding.
“The agency emphasizes the importance of public awareness on waste management to prevent flooding and advises at-risk communities to relocate to safer areas,” Umar noted.
Farmers were also reassured by the NEMA Director-General, who acknowledged the temporary dry season and urged patience as the situation is expected to improve.
Community leaders and stakeholders were called upon to implement rapid response measures to mitigate the ongoing flood threats and protect vulnerable populations.
