By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has hinted the people of Kwara state on imminent high and moderate floodings in five of the State local government areas during this raining season.

Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Director-General (D-G) of NEMA gave the warning in Ilorin during the 2024 Downscaling of Flood Early Warnings Systems at States Levels.

The Local Government Areas (LGAs), according to her, are under high and moderate flood risk areas, including Patigi, Edu, Kaiama, Asa and Baruten.

The D-G who was represented by Mr Daniel Obot, the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction of NEMA, however, called on the Kwara State Government to take proactive measures to mitigate flooding in the state, while underscoring the importance of the programme for effective early actions to saves lives and livelihoods during the rainy season.

According to her, the 2024 rainy season, indicates that some Local Government Areas of Kwara are still predicted to be affected by flooding.

Umar explained that this underscored the flag off, and support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation messages to the grassroots.

In his reaction, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Saba Mamman-Jubril commended the Agency for their proactive measures.

Jubril, who represented Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the event. advised on the need for dyke or levee, an embankment constructed along a riverbank or coastal shoreline to prevent the flow of floodwaters onto land, while also stressing the need for dredging, building of more buffers and afforestation to stem dangers of flooding in communities.

Alhaji Ibrahim Olatunji Adebara, representing Oba of Jebba, Abdulkadir Adebara, appealed to the state government to relocate people in riverine communities so as to save their lives.

Also Alhaji Gana Lukpadu, the Ciroma of Patigi lamented that the community is always worse hit by flooding every year, urging the government at all tiers to find lasting solutions to flooding in the state and the nation at large.