The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) has advised residents of flood-prone riverine communities across the state to relocate to elevated areas to avert potential loss of life and property.
Benjamin Akwash, NASEMA’s director-general, shared this recommendation on Friday in Awe Local Government Area during a three-day advocacy and awareness campaign regarding Early Warning and Response Mechanisms in flood-prone regions of the state.
Mr Akwash explained that the awareness campaign was a response to the 2024 seasonal rainfall forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which has identified Nasarawa as a state at significant risk of flooding.
He called upon stakeholders, including traditional rulers, to support the campaign by leveraging their influence in their communities to encourage residents to adopt precautionary measures.
The NASEMA head identified the local government areas most at risk of flooding as Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, and Toto, which are adjacent to the River Benue. He also indicated that parts of Lafia, Karu, Akwanga, Keffi, and Wamba could experience flash floods during the rainy season.
He urged residents in vulnerable areas to heed the warnings and relocate, stressing that “one must be alive to achieve their goals and aspirations.”
“In earlier predictions this year, NiMet indicated that over 200 local government areas across the nation are likely to face varying degrees of flooding. In Nasarawa, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, and Toto are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to the River Benue.
“When we receive such forecasts, the agency initiates early warning and sensitisation campaigns across the affected regions.
“Our visit to these palaces today is part of our ongoing efforts to educate riverine communities on the necessity of moving from unsafe to safer locations,” Mr Akwash stated.
He noted that NASEMA is collaborating with the state Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services to provide assistance to those recently affected by flooding.
Jerry Danjuma-Kuje, secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Nasarawa, highlighted the importance of responding to early warning messages and prioritising evacuation to protect lives and property.
The Andoma of Doma, Ahmadu Oga-Onawo, remarked that the sensitisation campaign is timely, especially considering the recurring devastation caused by flooding in Doma and other parts of the state.
He urged district leaders to communicate the message to their constituents and called on the state government to prioritise flood prevention by constructing drainage systems and ensuring rapid response to affected communities.
Likewise, the Sarkin Tunga, Muhammad Ibrahim-Shuaibu IV, praised NASEMA for its proactive measures, noting that the Tunga community has repeatedly suffered flooding due to the annual water release from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
He appealed to both federal and state governments to establish a refugee camp and rehabilitate the Awe-Tunga road, which is a crucial route connecting Nasarawa to Taraba, Plateau, and Benue states.
