The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a stern warning to residents in flood-prone communities across 27 Nigerian states to start relocating immediately. The warning follows severe flooding that has impacted 227,494 individuals, damaged 32,837 homes, and affected 16,488 hectares of farmland.
NEMA’s Emergency Operations Centre, established for flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, revealed the extensive damage caused by the floods. The Agency is working alongside State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to distribute essential relief supplies and mobilize search and rescue teams to assist affected communities.
NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, emphasized the critical need for communities at risk to move to higher ground as the rainy season continues. She also highlighted the importance of increased public awareness of proper waste management to help prevent future flooding incidents.
In her statement, Umar reassured farmers that the current dry season is temporary and urged community leaders and stakeholders to implement rapid response measures to mitigate the ongoing flood threats.