Anambra ready for 2018 Flood emergencies, seeks FG Support

Fri, Sep 14, 2018 | By publisher


Environment

Anambra State government plans to take proactive measures at ensuring control of flooding in the state.

Nkem Okeke, deputy governor of Anambra, stated this while receiving delegation on National Emergency Management Agency, Abuja, at his office at Government House, Awka.

Okeke emphasised that Anambra had earlier designated 28 centres to accommodate the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, who could be affected by flooding.

He said that the flooding situation was a recurrent one that comes up every year, calling on the appropriate bodies to synergise, to stem panic among the people during rainy season.

Okeke, then pleaded with federal government step in to assist Anambra to check flooding if it comes by providing equipment, food items, necessary materials, healthcare as well as care givers at IDP camps.

The deputy governor called on people living at the flood-prone areas to be at alert and move to higher grounds “as the water level rises’’.

This followed prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Agency that some coastal states including Anambra would be affected by flooding as a result of heavy rains this season.

Earlier, Vincent Owan, director, Research, Planning and Forecasting, NEMA, said the group was in the state to ascertain the readiness of the state to cope with the disaster.

He hinted at the alarming prediction also by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, that heavy rainfall could be accompanied by flooding in some areas of the country.

He called for aggressive sensitisation campaign in the upcoming flooding, saying that measures had been set up to combat emergencies.

The director said that the team would visit IDP camps across Anambra to evaluate its effectiveness.

According to him, NEMA is interested and passionate about ensuring that Nigerians do not suffer in event of flooding incidence.

Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, secretary to State government, SSG, and the State NEMA team were also present during the visit.

The visit witnessed the presentation of letter on upcoming flooding by Director-General, NEMA to Anambra State Government.

– Sept. 14, 2018 @ 11:49 GMT |

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