The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a vital warning to residents of 11 local government areas in Niger State, urging them to be prepared for an anticipated flood in the upcoming months.
The Head of the Minna Operations Office, Zhinab Sa’idu, conveyed the warning in the state capital, Minna, highlighting that certain areas are particularly at risk of flooding between July and November.
Mokwa, Shiroro, Lavun, and Borgu local government areas have been identified as high-risk zones, while Edati, Gbako, Wushishi, Rafi, Mashegu, Magama, and Agwara are deemed to be at moderate risk during the same period.
As evidence of the threat, Niger State has already witnessed instances of flood and windstorm in some of these areas.
Therefore, Sa’idu stressed the importance for residents to take serious precautions in order to prevent further damage to properties and loss of lives.
To mitigate the impact of potential floods, Sa’idu provided essential advice to people residing in the affected LGAs.
She urged them to maintain clean drainage systems to prevent waterways and channels from becoming blocked.
Additionally, she recommended that those living in flood-prone areas and along river banks should relocate to higher and safer regions.
Drawing attention to the rising water levels along River Niger and its tributaries, Sa’idu cautioned that this could lead to an overflow of water on the river banks, significantly affecting settlements in close proximity to the rivers.
