Residents of flood-prone communities in 27 states have been warned to relocate to avoid being affected by floods.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), issued the warning in Abuja on Thursday while also reporting that the floods caused significant damage to 32,837 homes and 16,488 hectares of farmland.
NEMA’s spokesperson, Mr Manzo Ezekiel said that mobilised search and rescue teams were distributing essential relief supplies in partnership with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs).
“27 states in Nigeria have been impacted by recent floods, affecting 227,494 individuals and damaging 32,837 houses and 16,488 hectares of farmland.
“NEMA is conducting assessments and deploying relief items to support affected communities,” Ezekiel stated.
NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar emphasised the urgency for communities in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as the rainy season progressed.
Umar also called for increased public awareness of proper waste management to help prevent future flooding.
“The agency emphasises the importance of public awareness on waste management to prevent flooding and advises at-risk communities to relocate to safer areas.”
NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, reassured farmers about the temporary dry season, pointing out that it would soon pass.
Community leaders and stakeholders were urged to implement rapid response measures to mitigate the ongoing flood threats.
