As part of its mandate to coordinate emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts nationwide, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held a National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting today to inform stakeholders and talk about proactive measures and preparedness regarding the 2024 flood prediction.
In response to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)’s 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) predictions, identifying 25 States and 72 Local Government Areas as flood high-risk areas between April to June; 33 States and 135 LGAs between July and September; and 19 states and 44 LGAs between October and November, NEMA, together with relevant stakeholders, developed the 2024 climate-related disaster preparedness and mitigation strategy as it affects Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources, Transportation, Health, Telecommunication and Power Generation and Distribution.
Addressing the meeting, Director General NEMA Mrs. Zubaida Umar called on all relevant stakeholders to fulfil their responsibilities to prevent loss of lives and property. She said NEMA will continue to intensify efforts to mitigate the predicted flooding and sensitise the general public.
She said stakeholders in various “various emergency sectors including Food Security, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Health, Nutrition, Education, Protection, Information, Emergency Shelter & Non-Food Item, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Security, Information and Logistics are requested to be holding regular (coordination) meetings. On the front burner should be preparedness and mitigation measures to be able to effectively respond to adverse climate-related situations that may arise this year.
“As it is rightly said, early warning is to be backed by early action to mitigate the impact of possible disasters.”
She explained that the two-day Experts’ Technical Meeting convened by NEMA to analyze the disaster management implication of the SCP and AFO predictions to develop the 2024 climate-related disaster preparedness and mitigation strategy has made some recommendations for various sectors including Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources, Transportation, Health, Telecommunication and Power Generation and Distribution.
“Some of the recommendations include but are not limited to community sensitization and awareness campaigns to ensure early desilting and clearing of debris in water bodies to prevent blockages; monitoring of dam discharge and regulations, as well as creating detention dams, and the need for sub-national entities to mobilize flood-prone communities to clear waterways and channels and relocate from flood plains,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the Director General of NIHSA Engr Clement Nze said urged the stakeholders to heed the message from NEMA and take seriously the flood predictions generated in the AFO and support efforts towards averting flooding and loss of lives this year.
In the same vein, the Director General Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Dr Mohammed Babgana Bulama who was also at the meeting assured the support of his agency to further awareness of the dangers of flooding in the country.
Other speakers at the meeting included the Director of Safety Nigerian Navy Headquarters Rear Admiral Umar Faruk and the Director of Disaster Management Nigerian Red Cross Society Mr Benson Agbro who presented goodwill messages on behalf of other organizations with assurances of partnership with NEMA. The Meeting also featured discussions and sharing of ideas on the way forward to efficient management flood in the country.
