Environment stakeholders have embarked on flood mitigating actions and public education on adequate preparation to forestall the negative effects of flooding in the South-East.
In Enugu State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has embarked on massive sensitisation in local governments on need to build temporary shelter camps in flood prone communities.
The South-East Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. James Eze, said that the agency had reactivated the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) in each of the 17 local government areas (LGAs).
Eze said that the agency through the active collaboration of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had gone on a sensitisation tour of 15 out of the 17 LGAs.
“We alert them on the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHISA) prediction and the need for them to be alert and start preparing on time by keeping close touch with their local LEMC, SEMA and NEMA.
“After reactivating the LEMCs in each council areas visited, we advised them to identify high level areas that will serve as temporary camps peradventure the flood comes probably in September or October.
“We also warned residents in communities in low land areas in Aniri, Uzo Uwani and Isi-uzo among others to get ready to relocate to safe places and temporary camps,” he said.
For the flash flood within Enugu metropolis, the coordinator said opening up drainage channels was key; adding that waterways must be cleared of refuse to ensure free flow of water.
Prof. Christian Madu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka said that apart from sensitisation on flood and its alert; there was need for modern drainage system in all cities in the country.
Madu, a Professor of Environmental Management and Control, said a larger drainage system with perforated openings connected to a central collection reservoir was needed in every city or community.
“The present drainage system of open gutters, which is not deep enough and prone to refuse blockage, can no longer contain the huge amount of water from downpour that leads to flooding.
“Following modern trends, buildings and structure development had taken over known ancient and natural waterways,” he said.
In Anambra, the State Emergency Management Agency advised residents of flood prone communities to prepare ahead of the imminent flooding predicted by NHISA.
Mr Emeka Obinwa, the Executive Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on SEMA said people living in flood plains of Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ihiala, Onitsha South, Idemili North and Nnewi North must take proactive measures ahead of time.
“People living in flood prone communities should start now to get their medicals, essentials and other important items together, pending when the flooding starts,” he said.
Obinwa said that SEMA had embarked on enlightenment and sensitization tours of the areas that usually recorded flooding.
In Ebonyi, environment stakeholders had also expressed huge concern over the prediction of heavy rainfall by the Nigerian Meteorological Services Agency (NiMET).
Mr. Ken Oziomaeze, Director, Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency said that 10 out of the 13 local government areas had been identified as highly and moderately probable flood risk areas.
The local governments include Ohaozara, Onicha, Afikpo South, Afikpo North, Ebonyi, and Ezza South.
On level of preparedness for imminent flooding, Oziomaeze said the Agency had established Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in the listed areas.
According to him, SEMA make use of primary and secondary schools as camps and officials have visited some of them in anticipation of the predicted flooding.
In Abia, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Sunday Jackson, said government was conscious of the predictions that Abia would experience heavy flooding during rainy season.
Jackson added that subsequently, government had initiated measures to check and mitigate its impact.
The executive secretary said that government had already commenced the expansion and desilting of drainages in Aba, Umuahia and other towns and the dredging of water end points.
Jackson said that communities in Ukwa West, Ukwa East and Arochukwu local government areas, living close to rivers and big streams, had been advised to relocate for their safety before the rivers would overflow.
He said that over 27 of the 50 flood-prone communities in the state had so far reported cases of flooding in their areas.
Jackson also said that 14 of the 17 LGAs, including Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Aba North, Aba South and Bende were likely to be affected by flooding in the rainy season.
“We have already recorded 16 deaths, including 13 children and three adults.
“We also have reports of houses, shops, schools and churches that were submerged by flood.
“The development has led to massive displacement of many people in the affected communities,” the SEMA head said.
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