…put measures in playground for safety, Sokoto, Delta to relocate citizens from flood-prone grounds
NEMA mum as floods ravage 10 states
Some situation governments are making plans to arrange camps for citizens displaced by means of the tide flood ravaging a number of communities within the nation, Saturday PUNCH can ascertain.
That is as deny fewer than 10 states and the Federal Capital Area, Abuja, have both skilled numerous levels of flood, or recorded casualties because the rains intensified.
The Minister of Aqua Sources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, who issued the purple alert right through a press briefing in Abuja, warned that 21 extra states may revel in flood.
He mentioned this in opposition to the background of the hail on Wednesday, which grounded industry and business actions in Lagos and Ogun states.
The ensuing flood introduced ill a two-storey construction within the Mushin section of Lagos and crushed citizens, month pupils may no longer attend faculties in portions of the situation. Moreover, a scholar was once swept away by means of the flood within the Ketu section of Lagos.
Utsev defined that the Annual Flooding Outlook by means of the Nigeria Hydrological Products and services Company, discharged in April, had predicted that 148 native govt grounds in 31 states fell inside the prime flooding possibility grounds.
The affected states come with Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Pass River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi. Others are Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
We would possibly reopen IDP camps – Lagos
Reacting to the new flood, the Lagos Situation govt mentioned it should reopen its camps to house sufferers displaced by means of the flooding.
The Everlasting Secretary, Lagos Situation Disaster Control Company, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH.
This comes at the heels of the Federal Executive’s ultimatum to states to brace for extra floods.
The Minister of Aqua Sources and Sanitation had issued a purple alert to 21 states, ultimatum that they could endure flood.
The ultimatum got here in opposition to the background of Wednesday’s hail, which grounded industry and business actions in Lagos and Ogun states.
Talking at the preparedness of Lagos Situation for flood, Oke-Osanyintolu prompt citizens dwelling in flood-prone grounds to briefly relocate. He added that the federal government would begin the devastate of constructions alongside aqua channels.
“What we’re experiencing in Lagos is a flash flooding. This implies when it’s raining, crowd have to stick in a shield playground.
“Then, after the rain is over, they can start moving about.”
He additionally appealed to Lagosians to abide by means of those laws and laws.
He added, “In Lagos Situation, we’re being empathetic. We don’t speak about devastate; what we’re doing is to safeguard that we take away any mode of obstruction that may supremacy to flood in any section.
“If a building is constructed in such a way that it impedes the free flow of water, it will definitely be removed. “This is what the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources is doing, in collaboration with the building control agency.”
Oke-Osanyintolu additionally famous that Lagos had some everlasting vacation camps in different grounds within the situation.
“We’ve one in Lagos West, at Igando. We’ve some other in Agbowa. A lot of these display that we’re in a position for any eventuality.
“If want be, we will be able to evident those camps. We’ve performed it sooner than, in 2010. We opened the camps to deal crowd that have been displaced. In 2012, we opened the camps once more for displaced crowd. So, if want be, we will be able to do it once more.
“Residents living in vulnerable areas need to leave, and those who built their structures in such a way that prevents the free flow of water should relocate,” Oke-Osanyintolu famous.
Ebonyi plans relocation
The Ebonyi Situation govt mentioned that it has already equipped a playground for displaced citizens to stick right through the flood. The situation govt additionally warned citizens in flood-prone grounds to be all ears to their movements and keep away from practices able to endangering their lives amidst the tide incidents of flood within the nation.
The situation catastrophe control company additionally disclosed that it have been setting up sensitisation campaigns to alert citizens of measures to undertake to block flood of their environs. The Folk Family members Officer of the SEMA, Mr Donatus Nwebonyi, in a phone interview with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, mentioned, “The Ebonyi Situation Executive has already equipped a playground for the ones more likely to be suffering from flood in case of any catastrophe.
“Then again, we’re nonetheless anticipating some vacation fabrics from Abuja during the Nationwide Disaster Control Company for individuals who have already been affected.
“NEMA usually provides relief materials for people affected by natural disasters.”
He added that 4 native govt grounds within the situation have been predicted as flood-prone in 2024 by means of the Federal Executive. Those 4 native govt grounds are Abakaliki, Afikpo, Ikwo, and Izzi.
A’Ibom problems purple alert
As a part of measures taken to take on flood within the situation, the Akwa Ibom Situation Executive mentioned it had reactivated its Disaster Protocol Control Gadget and commissioned a go back and forth to the estuaries to evaluate the situation of the banks.
The Situation Commissioner of Knowledge and Technique, Ini Ememobong, who spoke with considered one of our correspondents in Uyo, mentioned the situation had additionally reactivated the fitness protocol required to deal with all fitness problems bobbing up from flood. He mentioned, “We’ve reactivated the Disaster Protocol Control Gadget, that means that gutters and drainages will have to be desilted, which is why you spot that sanitation workout is ongoing.
“We commissioned a trip to the estuaries where the banks are to assess their condition, and have reactivated the necessary health protocols because, as you know, as soon as flooding occurs, it becomes a health issue. Agriculture, internal security, and information departments are on board to ensure that emergency issues are tackled.”
Edo’s plan
The Edo Situation Commissioner for Folk Protection and Safety, Kingsley Uwagbale, has mentioned that the situation will evaluation and replace its flooding control plan from endmost moment to battle incidents of flood. He famous that Edo Situation didn’t revel in flood endmost moment and that the situation would find out about this moment’s flooding projections to permit it take on the problem.
He mentioned, “We will be able to do what we did endmost moment and safeguard that crowd in grounds liable to flood are both evacuated, or we installed playground plenty resistance to comprise the flooding.
“There was no flooding in Edo last year, because we implemented our flood management plan. This year, we will review that plan vis-a-vis the predictions and see if we are exposed or not. If we are exposed, we will address those areas, but I can assure you that Edo State is prepared for flood management.”
Kaduna sensitises voters
In the meantime, the Kaduna Situation Executive, during the Situation Disaster Control Company, has convened a gathering of stakeholders to analyse the 2024 Annual Flooding Outlook discharged by means of the Nigeria Hydrological Products and services Company.
The Press Secretary to the situation governor, Mohammed Shehu, mentioned the situation had launched into sensitisation of communities in flood-prone grounds, the use of conventional and spiritual leaders in addition to alternative stakeholders to coach citizens at the risks of flood, and learn how to avert herbal screw ups.
Moreover, the governor’s spokesman discussed that the situation had arrange a cellular courtroom to prosecute citizens who indiscriminately sell off negative in drainages. Shehu additionally mentioned that his primary had authorized the acquisition of vacation pieces to be prepositioned as a part of preparedness in opposition to any flooding incidents.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH in Kaduna on Friday, Shehu mentioned, “KADSEMA has activated its contingency plan, which is a state working document on emergency preparedness and response. The document outlines the responsibilities of each stakeholder. A template is prepared to gather information on the level of preparedness of each stakeholder towards mitigating the impact of the flood in 2024. KADSEMA has trained its volunteer divers and held a series of simulation exercises across the state and vulnerable communities.”
Anambra warns 11 LGs
The Anambra Situation Disaster Control Company has issued early ultimatum alerts to citizens of flood-prone communities within the situation to keep away from accidents and the lack of lives and houses. The Folk Family members Officer, SEMA, Chinyere Nwoye, mentioned the horrendous affects of floods in Anambra over time, particularly in 2012 and 2022, had served as a take-heed call to citizens and significant companies to collaborate with NEMA and SEMA to supremacy flooding screw ups and their related hazards.
Nwoye indexed the flood-prone communities to incorporate Ogbaru, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Idemili North, Onitsha North, Nnewi North, Idemili South, Onitsha South, Ihiala, and Ekwusigo native govt grounds. She mentioned the company, during the situation govt, conventional rulers, and significant companies, had intensified efforts in sensitising the crowd and putting in place measures to block and mitigate any flooding emergencies.
‘Relocate to higher grounds’
Citizens in lowland and flood-prone grounds of Delta Situation were referred to as upon to relocate to better field in view of the approaching flooding, following previous threats from the Nigerian Hydrological Products and services Company. The Delta Situation Executive, month giving the directive, mentioned it was once involved in regards to the lives and detail of voters dwelling in flood-prone grounds.
The situation govt, on the other hand, maintained that the whole thing humanly imaginable was once being performed to mitigate the demanding situations anticipated from the approaching flooding.
The Situation Commissioner for State, Ejiro Tommy, in particular disclosed that the federal government “had started working out plans for local government areas that were flood-prone zones with earlier awareness campaigns and sensitization.”
Sokoto warns citizens
As a part of measures to curtail any imaginable flood in Sokoto Situation, officers of the Sokoto Environmental Control Company have launched into sensitisation of individuals dwelling in flood-prone grounds. An reputable of the company, who spoke with our correspondent on status of anonymity as he was once no longer authorized to speak to the clicking, mentioned the workforce have been shifting from one nation to some other, informing the ones dwelling akin to those grounds of the chance of floods.
Measures in playground– Ondo
The Ondo Situation Executive has mentioned there is not any motive for alarm in regards to the factor of flood within the situation, pointing out that measures have been installed playground to block the incidence of floods. The situation Commissioner for State, Oyeniyi Oseni, whose ministry supervises the Situation Disaster Control Company, mentioned the situation govt have been proactive, and steps have been being taken to safeguard deny flooding incidents are recorded within the situation.
He mentioned, “We have put several measures in place to prevent flooding across the state. We are stepping up our waste collection and disposal mechanism. We have commenced our channelisation programme called ‘Operation Flush’ to allow the free flow of water. We have put in place measures to evacuate about 100km of drainage across the state.”
Kwara executive expands river route
Moreover, the Kwara Situation Executive mentioned it had embarked at the growth of Asa River and alternative river classes in grounds liable to flood within the situation. The Secretary to the Situation Executive, Prof Saba Mamman-Jubril, mentioned that the federal government had taken proactive measures in grounds indexed by means of the Nigerian Meteorological Company as susceptible grounds within the situation.
Mamman-Jubril mentioned that the federal government had embarked at the building of a dyke or levee, an embankment alongside a riverbank or coastal coastline to block the tide of floodwaters, month the ones dwelling similar the river have been prompt to exit from the section. He mentioned there was once a necessity for common dredging, construction extra buffers, and afforestation to stem the hazards of flood in communities.
NEMA mum
The Nationwide Disaster Control Company has remained tranquil amid the ravaging floods that experience devastated and killed many crowd in 10 states.
A number of efforts since Thursday to grasp what the company was once doing to support mitigate the affect of the 2024 flooding didn’t obtain sure reaction. Rather, officers of the company have many times claimed to be busy with out offering solutions on what NEMA is doing to support ameliorate the condition.
Upcoming a number of makes an attempt by means of our correspondent to get a reaction from NEMA on the way it was once tackling the catastrophe, the spokesperson of the company, Ezekiel Manzo, mentioned he was once busy.
“I am deeply sorry. We are very busy in Kaduna and expecting the Vice President for a function shortly,” was once his reaction on Friday to enquiries despatched to him each on Thursday and Friday.
Lagosians rely losses
Following a hail that grounded industry and business actions on Wednesday in numerous portions of Lagos Situation, citizens have recounted the losses and harm they suffered. Despite the fact that the situation govt mentioned the mist lasted for 9 hours, in some portions of the situation, the mist lasted for greater than 10 hours.
The hail led to flood that introduced ill a two-storey construction within the Mushin section of Lagos and level-headed vehicular motion at the roads, eminent many automotive homeowners to lodge to car mechanics to healing the wear and tear incurred.
Saturday PUNCH accumulated that the grounds suffering from the flooding integrated Ojodu Berger, Ikeja, Ogba, Bariga, and Iba, amongst others, with citizens lamenting that the mist additionally broken their family home equipment.
A resident of Awenla Side road, in Bariga, Mr Olayode Ogunsanya, instructed considered one of our correspondents who visited the section on Thursday that his space was once a number of the houses badly suffering from the hail. He mentioned, “The hail was once very horrific. It entered all our rooms on this construction. As you’ll see, some tenants are nonetheless clearing out the grimy rainwater from their rooms.
“For some people, it took them till midnight yesterday (Wednesday) before they could clear out the flood. It affected their properties such as mattresses and others. The wind that accompanied the rain also affected the roofs of some of the rooms. I just sat down here thinking of how to fix them before it rains again.”
Recounting her loss, one of the crucial tenants within the section, Mrs Bose Onayemi, mentioned it have been an extended moment since her room was once suffering from a hail, however the fresh one broken many units in her rental, together with a unutilized plasma TV and bed.
“For the year 10 years, mist has no longer entered my room. However this endmost hail was once very severe and I used to be badly affected. Sadly, it spoilt the unutilized plasma TV that we simply purchased. And, it was once as a result of we didn’t know that the mist could be that large, let rejected assume that it could input the home. So, the tv was once nonetheless at the flooring when the mist started.
“You already know the hail began in the dark. Sooner than I may get up to understand what was once going down, it had entered all of the rooms in the home. So my kids and I began packing the aqua. We did that until this morning.
“The rainwater soaked my mattress and affected the wood. That is why I brought them out to dry this afternoon. But, when I took the new television to the repair shop earlier today, I was told the rain had spoilt it. I just left it there. It is a sad one,” she lamented.
Some other resident within the Iyana Iba section, Niyi Okeowo, mentioned that the hail destroyed his detail, blaming the unpleasant construction at the insufficiency of a deliberate drainage gadget within the section.
Niyi mentioned, “I am not happy that this rain ruined all my property. It destroyed my bed and a lot of other things. I now walk through water in my room and compound. I just believe we don’t have a good drainage system. If we did, it wouldn’t be this bad.”
Extra stories: Okechukwu Nnodim, Edward Nnachi, Godwin Isenyo, Muhammed Lawal, Dele Ogunyemi, Uthman Abubakar, Peter Dada and Animasahun Salman