Nigeria deploys weather, emergency officers to stop flood devastation

Nigeria government has announced the deployment of experts from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) to all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to warns citizens of possible flooding and flood devastation in the months ahead.

The move the government said would help prevent a repeat to the 2022 devastating experience.

Nigeria’s chief emergency officer, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, disclosed government’s decision at the flag-off of early warning measures to the grassroots in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

According to Adamu, the move will enable those concerned to make appropriate plans that can save lives, livelihoods, critical national assets, and the natural ecosystem.

Office records shows that in 2022, over four million people affected by flood, with over 2 million displacement, and 665 deaths. The flood also caused damage and destruction to about 355,986 houses and 944,989 hectares of farmland. Authorities say, it is the worst flood devastation in Nigeria’s history.

The NEMA DG said his agency had written to all the state governors to draw their attention to imminent floods and associated secondary hazards during the rainy season to avoid a repeat of the 2022 flood disaster,

Speaking at the event, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who flagged off the early warning measures in the state, commit to sustaining the already exiting cordial relationship between Akwa Ibom and NEMA.

“Previous administrations have established good working relationships with NEMA; we will continue to build on that to prevent any future flood disaster in our state,” Eno said

In her welcome address, Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi said: “We can’t wish disaster away, but proactive steps taken can mitigate the effects of the disaster in our state.

“If this meeting engenders the envisaged action, we will not have reasons to fear. We appreciate NEMA for its various interventions in the state, especially the ongoing Special National Economic Livelihood Emergency Interventions, which offer succour to victims of the last fuel disaster in the state that happened in 2022.

“Akwa Ibom State has experienced its fair share of natural disasters, and we cannot afford to be caught off-guard in future occurrences in this regard. There is an urgent need for capacity building of stakeholders in disaster management in the state and local government areas.”