The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has advised state governments to take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing forecasts on heavy rainfalls and consequential flooding severities.
In a statement signed by the special assistant on media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, and made available to Blueprint in Abuja Sunday, Farouq urged states with highly probable flood risk areas to identify high grounds for use as camps for the evacuation of possible Internally Displaced Persons and to shelter evacuated communities.
While sympathising with the people of Kebbi, Bauchi and Jigawa states following heavy flooding in some areas, which has led to loss of lives, farmlands and displacement of many people, Farouq urged states to organise humanitarian coordination fora to prepare all stakeholders for mitigation and response as well as request relief materials for prompt response after the flood.
The minister urged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA), frontline LGAs and other response agencies to put in place precautionary actions by carrying out public enlightenment campaigns, ensuring the desilting of river channels and canals, removal of all refuse and weeds from water channels, drainages and all avenues for runoffs; so as to allow free flow of flood waters.
Farouq assured that the Federal Government, through her ministry, has taken note of this year’s prediction and will continue to work with stakeholders to mitigate the possible effects of the flooding.
She said: “The recent flood incidences in parts of the country affirm the need for serious and urgent actions to be taken to safeguard lives and property. The 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and the Annual Flood Outlook forecasts flood situations for different parts of the country.
“The Annual Flood Outlook forecasts that 102 local government areas (LGAs) in 28 states will have heavy rainfall, while 275 LGAs in the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, will experience moderate flooding.
“The remaining 397 LGAs fall within the low probable flood risk areas. Unfortunately, the predicted floods have started to occur in many parts of the country, including Bauchi, Kebbi and Jigawa states. Therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as the season moves towards the peak.”
Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Oyo, Ogun, Abia, Kano, Kebbi and the FCT are states forecast to experience heavy rainfall and possible flooding.
