With 2023 rainy season expected to increase in May, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency has revealed its plan to embark on a tour to flood prone areas in the Territory.
The Director General of FEMA, Dr Abbas Idriss disclosed this in a statement signed by the agency’s head of public Relations, Nkechi Isa in Abuja.
Dr.Idriss explained that the 2023 annual flood outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, (NIHSA), puts the FCT and 178 other local governments in the country on highly probable flood-risk areas.
According to him “We intend to assess the infrastructural improvements made by the Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA) and other stakeholders towards preventing or mitigating the impact of flooding in the FCT.
“All hands are on deck to ensure that floods, even when it happens, would not be devastating.
“You will see that since the last rainy season, we are still working to remove shanties to open the blocked waterways to allow free flow of water when the rain comes,” he said.
The FEMA Boss noted that the ongoing demolition exercise is premised on “our assessment and findings on blockage of waterways with illegal structures”.
“This helped in 2022, which is why we did not have any fatalities from flooding in the FCT.
“We are expecting the same this year and we are already working to mitigate the impact of floods,” he ascertained.
He called on residents of the FCT to support the action and stop disposing waste indiscriminately and also building on the waterways.
“We shall continue to remove any illegal structure that’s built against the Master plan”, he affirmed.
