Chinedum Treasure
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised residents of riverine communities in Anambra state to be prepared to relocate to higher grounds if the River Niger rises beyond the safe limit.
Head of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, Mrs Priscilla Madukwe gave the advice on Tuesday during a monitoring visit to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to inspect the water gauge and assess the risk of flooding.
She said the water level of the River Niger is gradually rising but remained within the safe limit at the time of the assessment.
“We urge residents, particularly those living close to the River Niger and other flood-prone areas, to pay attention to official information from emergency management authorities and take necessary precautions,” she said.
Madukwe said the monitoring exercise, conducted in collaboration with the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society was part of proactive measures to strengthen disaster preparedness.
According to her, regular monitoring of the water gauge was critical to providing early warning and enabling relevant agencies to activate appropriate response measures before the situation became critical.
“Residents should not wait until floodwaters enter their homes or communities before taking precautionary measures, especially when early warning information has been provided,” she added.
Madukwe said information obtained from the exercise would assist NEMA, SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders in strengthening preparedness plans and taking timely decisions if the water level exceeded the safe threshold.
While appealing to residents to remain calm but vigilant and cooperate with emergency management authorities, NEMA boss assured that the agencies would continue to monitor the River Niger and provide updates on significant changes.
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