According to prediction by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Anambra State riverine communities have been advised to be vigilant and prepare for relocation as this year’s flooding gears up.

 

Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and Nigeria Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, gave the advice during a sensitization visit to Ayamelum, Anambra East and West Council Areas.

The NEMA and SEMA sensitization visit was in fulfilment of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency’s mandate to provide essential meteorological information to residents of flood prone areas to minimize adverse effect of the disaster.

 

According to the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction released on February seventeen this year, two hundred and thirty-three council areas in thirty-two states plus FCT are within highly probable flood risk areas, while two hundred and twelve council areas in thirty-five states of the federation are within moderately probable flood risk areas.

Addressing the people, the Principal Administration Officer, NEMA, Enugu, Mr. Kennedy Ekeh, and the Executive Secretary SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, represented by a Director in the agency, Mr. Chukwudi Onyejekwe asked them to be at alert and comply with government’s directives on how to minimize the effects of the flood, as well as prepare selves on security, economic and health implications of the foreseen flood outbreak.

 

Responding, the Transition Committee Chairman, Anambra East Council Area, Dr Anselm Nworah, that of Anambra West, Mr. Felix Ikechi, and their Ayamelum counterpart, Mr. Livinus Onyenwe represented by the Head of Administration in the council area, Engineer Valentine Onurah, while expressing gratitude to Anambra State Government, SEMA and NEMA for the sensitization and various interventions geared towards cushioning the effects of flood disaster on people at the riverine areas, urged the people to take the warning seriously, and to learn to keep their environment clean at all times.

The traditional ruler of Umolum, Igwe Christopher Ndibe, that of Omasi, Igwe Benjamin Okeji, and Igwe Simeon Chidubem of Umubo were present during the event.