By Ikemefuna Asika
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has advised residents of riverine communities in Anambra State to make plans to move to the higher grounds for safety of lives and property.
The advice was given by
the Director Planning , Research and Strategy in the Agency, Nuru Kobi,
when he visited Anambra State for flood safety sensitization on behalf of the Director General, Mallam Lanre Omilliu.
The Director advised them to stockpile essential emergency supplies like Food, water, medicines, and first aid kits as well as evacuate from flood prone areas without further delay.
He stated that the rise in the water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue to increase, leading to flooding in some parts of the country already, was as a result of Cameroonian authorities releasing water from the country’s dams since the 17th of this month.
According to him, between 2012 and 2022, Nigeria lost over six hundred thousand people to flood incidents and over ten thousand houses submerged, majorly caused by the opening of the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
Mallam Kobi remarked that the present administration had resolved not to allow people to experience the same negative impact hence the urgent need to sensitize the people to move to a safer side.
He revealed that the Cameroonian authorities at the moment were releasing five million cubic meters of water daily which invariably translates to rapid increase of the rivers in Nigeria.
While observing that most times the flood incident begins at night, the Director – General advised them to place priority on women and children as the agency was taking proactive measures to ensure safety of all.
Earlier, the Director, National Orientation Agency, Anambra state, Mr Edozie Ajaegbu said they were already on ground in all the local government areas with records of flooding, using Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers to educate the people on how to navigate in the case of any flood incident .
Speaking on behalf of the Presidents – General in Ogbaru Local government area, the President – General of Ohita Community, Chief Emma Obi, recounted the people’s experience during flood saying farmlands and houses were usually submerged.
While expressing appreciation to the Agency for the early warnings and sensitization, Obi appealed to the Federal government to consider finding lasting solution such as construction of dams and creating embankments on the river banks as a solution to the natural disaster.
It will be recalled that Cameroonian authorities recently informed Nigeria that the Lagdo Dam is overflowing and as a result could cause significant flooding and environmental damage in some parts of the country.
This prompted the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to begin to alert the populace, especially those living along the banks of Rivers Niger and Benue among others.
