Heavy Rains: Move to safer areas now, NEMA tells Nigerians

The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) has appealed to Nigerians living in areas vulnerable to flooding to take precautionary measures as persistent rainfall continues across the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its Press Unit, the agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, urged residents to pay close attention to official flood warnings and move to safer locations whenever there is a risk of inundation.

She said communities should immediately activate local flood prevention measures to lessen the impact of rising water levels.

According to the statement, “The current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding.”

Umar warned residents against attempting to drive or walk through flooded roads, noting that such actions could prove fatal. She also advised members of the public to keep drainage channels free of refuse to ensure the smooth flow of water during heavy rains.

She encouraged communities to report emergencies without delay so that rescue agencies could respond swiftly.

The NEMA chief stressed that “preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season.”

To strengthen preparedness, Umar said the agency had directed all Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices to step up public sensitisation campaigns on flood safety across the country.

She added that the officials had also been instructed to work more closely with State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, traditional rulers and other relevant stakeholders, while ensuring prompt coordination of search and rescue operations whenever emergencies arise.

Reaffirming the agency’s readiness, Umar said NEMA would continue monitoring the flood situation nationwide and collaborate with relevant authorities to provide timely emergency response and humanitarian assistance to affected communities.

The advisory follows recent warnings by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which forecast a medium flood risk in 14 states between July 14 and July 20. The agency listed Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau as areas likely to experience localised flooding.

The Federal Ministry of Environment had also earlier alerted residents in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory to the possibility of flooding caused by heavy rainfall, urging those in vulnerable locations to remain vigilant, follow official weather updates and relocate where necessary to safeguard lives and property.