The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako has issued a directive urging Nigerians residing on floodplains, especially those near the River Benue, to relocate to higher ground.
This call comes in response to a flood prediction report issued for October, by the Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Hub.
Salako emphasised the importance of taking immediate action, as reports from Adamawa and Taraba states indicate that the predicted flooding is already occurring. He stressed that urgent measures must be taken by all stakeholders involved in flood management across the nation.
The minister advised residents in other areas predicted to experience flooding to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their communities.
In light of this, the Federal Ministry of Environment has called upon various stakeholders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Affairs, Red Cross/Crescent, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Health, State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) and others to promptly activate their flood emergency response actions.
These response actions, as outlined by Salako, should focus on creating awareness, facilitating evacuations, providing basic necessities and temporary shelter and offering medical attention and facilities.
The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Environment will continue to closely monitor developments at the National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Central Hub. The ministry will also provide regular updates to the public to prevent a recurrence of past flood-related events.
