NEMA warns of impending floods in Rivers

NAS seeks judicious use of N3b allocation to vulnerable states

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned residents of Rivers State of looming floods within the next four weeks. The South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Adebiyi Razak, gave the warning on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

According to him, NEMA had already begun preparing residents to mitigate the impact of the floods as the intensity of rainfall increases in the South-South, particularly in Rivers. “In the next four weeks, the intensity of the rain will be high in Rivers, and we have already sensitised people in areas prone to flash floods,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has raised serious concerns over the recent flood disaster that devastated Maiduguri and surrounding communities in Borno State.

While initial reports attributed the flooding to the collapse of the Alau Dam, the Federal Government said the overflow of the Ngadda River was the primary cause, not the dam failure. Experts had long warned of the potential dangers posed by the Alau Dam, which had suffered cracks and erosion for years due to neglect.

However, in a statement on Sunday, NAS, through its Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, strongly condemned the government’s insufficient response to these disasters.

According to Oteri, despite repeated warnings and calls for action, nothing substantial was done to prevent the crisis in Borno. He noted that neglecting critical infrastructure like the Alau Dam only exacerbates a dire humanitarian situation in a region plagued by food insecurity and conflict.

“The failure to take preventive action has deepened the suffering of an already vulnerable population,” Oteri remarked, adding, “Over a million people have been affected, and the flood has worsened the food insecurity in Borno, which serves as a key hub in the conflict-stricken North-East.”

In response to the growing risk of widespread flooding, the Federal Government last week approved N3 billion to each state for disaster management and flood relief. However, NAS expressed concerns that these funds could be misappropriated or diverted for other uses, as has often been the case with disaster relief funds.

Oteri emphasised that greater transparency and accountability are crucial to ensuring these funds are used effectively to address the challenges ahead. NAS called on residents in flood-prone areas to heed evacuation warnings and relocate early.