NEMA asks states, LGs to relocate communities in flood-prone areas

DG, National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi

The National Emergency Management Agency has asked states and local government councils to relocate communities residing in flood-prone areas, saying it is their duty to protect their citizens from harm.

The agency stated that the nation would experience massive rainfall which would result in flooding as experienced last year, adding that states and LGs must relocate vulnerable communities to avoid another major humanitarian crisis and disaster.

NEMA said it would carry out the mapping of vulnerable areas and would send the report to concerned states and local governments to take the necessary action, noting that it spent N1.4 bn on disaster management in 2012.

Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said this at a press conference on early warning message and disaster management implication of Nigerian Metrological Agency’s seasonal rainfall prediction for 2013 in Abuja on Monday.

Sani-Sidi explained that the North-west and other parts of the country would witness huge rainfall which he said would result in bumper agricultural yields for farmers, but added that dams that are likely to have excess rain water may overflow and collapse, leading to loss of lives and livelihood as well as displacement of people

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*I have personally witnessed the damaged last years flood meted in some communities like Hamsin-Hamsin and Guto all in Nasarawa local governemnt area of Nasarawa State. Truly speaking the hunts inhabited by these villagers where destroyed and their arable land is destroyed too. I think these guys needs to be relocated to a safer place.