Northeast States Brace For Floods As NiMet Issues Warning
The Borno, Yobe and Adamawa governments have activated response strategies and evacuation plans to mitigate the effects of impending floods, following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency about heavy rains in parts of the states.
In Borno State, the government has constituted a flood preparedness committee comprising NiMet, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), according to Yagana Ali-Abadam, an official of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Residents of flood-prone communities in Dikwa have been evacuated to safer shelters, while food items and relief materials are being provided to victims of previous floods in Kala Balge, which experiences annual floods linked to the release of water from neighbouring Cameroon. Extensive drainage clearance has been carried out in Maiduguri, with targeted interventions in major flood-prone areas including Ajilari Cross, Kopa and Bulumkutu-Dala.
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency has deployed real-time river monitoring and digital community reporting platforms in flood-prone areas, according to Ibrahim Jalo, the agency’s director of search and rescue operations. The agency has engaged security agencies, ministries, persons with disabilities groups and humanitarian partners to strengthen disaster response. Local Government Area Early Warning and Action Committees have been activated and trained to improve grassroots emergency response. The Yobe government has directed the agency to prepare relief materials targeting 50,000 households and food items for 10,000 households, while 7,400 sandbags have been earmarked for embankment activities in vulnerable communities. Emergency response materials are being positioned in Damaturu, Potiskum and Geidam. Mr Jalo identified 12 flood high-risk areas, including Gujba, Damaturu, Bursari, Geidam, Yunusari, Fika, Potiskum, Jakusko, Bade, Gulani, Karasuwa and Machina.
The Adamawa government has activated Flood Response Committees in all 21 local government areas and embarked on the desilting of major water channels in Yola North, Yola South, and Jimeta. Celine Laori, executive secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), listed high flood risk areas to include Fufore, Yola South, Girei, Yola North, Demsa, Numan and Lamurde, with safe locations identified in each area. The agency is collaborating with radio stations to broadcast jingles in Hausa, Fulfulde and other local languages, while town hall meetings are ongoing. “We are telling people to avoid building on waterways, clear their drainages, and relocate early when they receive warnings. Early warning is key to saving lives,” Ms Laori said. Relief materials including food items, tents, mattresses and drugs have been procured for emergency response.