Flooding: FG places response agencies on red alert in Ekiti

Following the flood prediction for this year, the Federal Government has disclosed that it has placed its response agencies on red alert in flood-prone areas of Ekiti State to avert disasters.

The response agencies include the federal and state Fire Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), among others.

This was just as it warned residents of the state to avoid dumping refuse and erecting buildings on water channels as part of the preventive measures against flooding.

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Habib Mustapha Ahmed, stated this yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting and awareness campaign on flood preparedness, response, and mitigation held in Ado Ekiti.

According to Ahmed, who was represented by the Head of Operation in Ekiti State, Mr. Olusegun Afolayan, the sensitisation meeting became imperative because of the consequences of the flooding, which would impact negatively on people in the various communities.

He said: “NIMET has predicted that climate change will lead to abnormal rainfall which will culminate to flood disasters in 28 states of the federation and many local councils will be affected. The NIHA, the management of the dam predicted on May 6, 2021, in their annual flood outlook that 28 states and 121 local councils will experience flood disasters.

“All hands must be put on deck to mitigate the occurrence of flood disasters that may likely occur between September and October 2021.”

He appealed to the local councils to sensitise people in their domains against dumping refuse in water channels and to help clear drainages so as to allow free flow of water, especially in the flood-prone areas.