NEMA alerts Kwara, others to evacuate flood prone areas

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer and higher grounds, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

The states at high risk, according to the agency are; Kebbi, Niger Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.

The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar has also directed all NEMA offices covering communities along the River Niger to intensify advocacy and mobilisation for flood preparedness.

She explained that the awareness campaign was necessary following alerts of rising water levels in the upstream of the river in the Republic of Benin.

The Head of Press Unit of the agency, Manzo Ezekiel in a statement yesterday stated: “The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed all NEMA offices covering communities along the River Niger to intensify advocacy and mobilisation for flood preparedness following alerts of rising water levels in the upstream of the river in the Republic of Benin.

In an urgent directive conveyed to the operations offices, Mrs. Zubaida Umar instructed them to sensitize communities to remain vigilant and advise residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer, higher grounds, especially those in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.’’