By Kenneth Madaki
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged residents of flood-prone communities nationwide to heed early warning alerts and relocate to safer areas as heavy rains intensify.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, gave the advice in a statement issued in Abuja, which was made available to journalists by the agency’s head of press unit, Manzo Ezekiel.
The NEMA DG said intensified rainfall across the country required communities to activate flood mitigation measures to reduce the impact of possible flooding.
She urged residents to pay attention to early warning information issued by relevant government agencies and relocate to higher ground whenever flooding threatened.
Mrs Umar advised motorists and pedestrians against driving or walking through floodwaters because of the risks to lives and property.
She also warned residents against dumping refuse into drainage channels, saying blocked drains increased the risk of flooding.
The director-general urged members of the public to promptly report emergency situations to relevant authorities for timely response and rescue operations.
According to her, preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways to prevent avoidable deaths and minimise flood-related losses.
Mrs Umar said NEMA had directed its zonal directors and heads of operations offices to intensify community flood awareness campaigns nationwide.
She said the agency would strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders.
The NEMA boss added that the agency would coordinate timely search and rescue operations wherever emergencies occurred.
She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to continuous flood monitoring and timely humanitarian assistance for affected communities across the country.
Mrs Umar urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with emergency authorities, and prioritise safety throughout the peak of the rainy season.