FLOOD

Flood Alert: NEMA advises States to evacuate groups along River Niger

The National Emergency control company  has issued a press statement, advising States to right away evacuate groups alongside the river Niger, due to extreme rainfall and rise in water level that could lead to extreme and disastrous flooding. The declaration  is as  a result of
extreme rainfall and rises in water level, Nigeria 's Emergency management company has advised groups along the river Niger to relocate right now to safer  places  because  of the  floods which can arise at any moment from now. DG of NEMA, Mr Sani Sidi said the company has obtained alerts of the flood from records given by means of the government in the Republic of Niger that the prevailing water stage within the river has reached a level  that may result in flooding that could be compared with the unfortunate flood  of 2012.
“Niger Basin Authority (NBA) notified Nigeria that wet season, which started in Burkina Faso and Niger Republic in June, 2016, has brought about a gradual upward thrust of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic. This high degree of water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and
 to Nigeria”.

The level of water in all of the hydrological tracking stations across Nigeria, as at Friday, 5th August, 2016, have already passed the corresponding values at that point, that's an alarming situation that requires the set off and coordinated movement of all governments and stakeholders. "If the heavy rainfall maintains in depth and duration inside those areas of the River Niger, it's miles drawing close that flood scenario much like that of the year 2012 can also occur."

All stakeholders should take essential movements consistent with their numerous mandates. The states and nearby government are to make certain moves with the aim of finding  a good way to ward off flooding. States along the river Niger belts are the ones at risk
 as well as those alongside its important tributaries that consists of Benue river belts , the confluence states and downstream to the Atlantic Coast.

N.E.M.A 's Zonal and Operation offices had been told to keep with advocacy  and go to  the state governments, and  urge them to make use of the flood vulnerability maps given to them earlier with the aid of NEMA to become aware of safer floor for brief shelters in time of evacuation as well as reviewing all their contingency plans.