By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday in Ilorin warned of imminent high and moderate flooding in some Kwara communities, as the rainy season sets.
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.
She listed the Local Government Areas (LGAs), which are under high and moderate flood risk areas to include Pategi, Edu, Kaiama, Asa and Baruten.
The D-G who was represented by Mr Daniel Obot, the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction of NEMA, called on the Kwara Government to take proactive measures to mitigate flooding in the state.
She underscores the importance of the program 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 underscores the flag off, and support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation messages to the grassroots.
Quoting the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), she said that 31 States with 148 LGAs have been predicted to be within the high flood risk areas.
She also added that 35 States including FCT with 249 LGAs are considered to fall within the moderne flood risk areas.
“The remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted for the low flood risk areas. These flood risk areas are presented with their degree of vulnerability to serve as a tool for governments at all levels to develop risk reduction measures to avert disaster losses during this rainy season.
“Similarly, sectors of agriculture and food security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, health, transportation, persection security amongst others are to set up mechanisms for disaster preparedness and risk reduction based on the early action strategies,” she said.
In his reaction, Prof. Saba Mamman-Jubril, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) commended the Agency for thier proactive measures.
Jubril who represented Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara 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.
He observed that need for frequent dredging, building of more buffers and the afforestation to stem dangers of flooding in communities.
Alhaji Ibrahim Olatunji, the Personal Assistant and representative of Oba of Jebba, Abdulkadir Adebara, appealed to the state government to relocate people in riverine communities, so as to save thier lives.
Also Alhaji Gana Lukpadu, the Ciroma of Patigi lamented that the community is always worse hit by flooding every year.
He urge the government at all tiers to find lasting solutions to flooding in the state and across the nation.
