The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has issued a flood warning to riverine communities in Nasarawa State, urging them to relocate to higher grounds due to the impending flood from the rising water level in River Benue.
Why You Should Be Concerned
The flood warning comes after the release of waters from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which is expected to cause severe flooding in the region.
NOA’s Appeal
Mallam Lanre Onilu, Director-General of NOA, emphasized the importance of precautionary measures to avoid losses of life and property, referencing the devastating floods of 2012 and 2022.
“We are sensitizing the riverine communities to be proactive. We should not allow what happened in 2012 and 2022 to happen again, where many lives were lost and thousands of houses were submerged,” Onilu said.
Safety Measures
To mitigate flood impacts, NOA recommends:
– Evacuation to higher grounds and safer areas
– Cleaning drains to ensure proper water flow
– Building flood defence barriers
– Stockpiling essentials like food, water, and first aid kits
Traditional Rulers Join Awareness Efforts
Traditional rulers in Nasarawa State have also joined the awareness efforts, educating their subjects on flood safety and relocation.
“It’s indeed one of the cardinal objectives of the traditional rulers in the state to sensitise and educate our subjects on issues of great importance as this flood safety alert,” said Mr Sunday Namo, the Aren Koron Kuje.
Affected Areas
The flood warning affects 11 states, including:
– Nasarawa
– Kogi
– Edo
– Anambra
– Benue
– Rivers
– Cross River
– Adamawa
– Taraba
Stay Safe, Stay Informed
Follow us for live updates on the flood situation and safety tips.
Vanguard.
