The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken the lead in advanced preparations for the evacuation of flood-prone communities across the South-South region amid disaster predictions.
Speaking in Cross River, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, Head of Operations, NEMA Uyo Operations Office, said the agency had commenced assessments of vulnerable communities to determine their readiness for evacuation.
NEMA’s proactive measures, according to Aisueni, are being complemented by stakeholders from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, who responded to a survey on the extent of planning to mitigate flood disasters.
These measures include desilting drains, conducting public enlightenment to sensitise residents on flood prevention, and encouraging rural communities to prepare for possible evacuation.
She added that the assessment was to determine whether residents in the identified communities were ready to be evacuated.
Aisueni explained that, in partnership with the state government, NEMA commenced the flood needs assessment programme in the three senatorial districts as a follow-up to a meeting earlier held on combating floods.
She added that, at the end of the programme, they would submit a report to the deputy governor, under whose purview is the State Emergency Management Agency, to take immediate action.
She also said they instituted a programme titled “National Preparedness Campaign” in respect of the 2025 flood prediction.
Similarly, Moses Osogi, the state Commissioner for Environment, said the government started preparing for the rainy season very early with the desilting of its drainages, especially in flood-prone areas.
He said they also partnered with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide additional receptacle bins in the state to prevent waste disposal into drainages, adding that this increased the number of state receptacle bins.
“This was done to prevent complaints of not having where to dispose of waste and, in turn, filling the gutters with them.“ he said
Osogi said the state had also constituted a standing task force that would go around to apprehend culprits of improper waste disposal in the state.
He said the objectives of the task force included ensuring that waste was disposed of between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily and that proper evacuation of the waste was done by designated trucks.
According to him, poor waste disposal had been a major challenge fuelling flooding in the state, and they had to address it.
Also speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the NEMA Head of Operations, Aisueni, said measures had been put in place to check flooding and save lives.
She said part of the measures was the commencement of a sensitisation programme carried out by NEMA and other stakeholders across the state to inform people to make preparations in case of flooding.
She explained that other measures included involving radio stations to campaign on the importance of clean environments and desilting of drainages, among others.
Aisueni added that the Uyo Operations Office was in communication with the Commissioner for Information and had shared jingles and flyers with him for interpretation in local languages and distribution to local communities.
According to her, if you look at the NiMET prediction, you will see that it is mostly local communities likely to be affected, such as Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, and others.
Aisueni added that NEMA earlier informed the Commissioner for Environment about areas likely to be affected by floods so the state could prepare for evacuation.
She explained that the agency had already contacted the military and that the 6th Battalion had agreed to join the NEMA team in case of emergency.
Aisueni added that the stakeholders were ready in case of evacuation and that the state government was urged to stockpile items for the wellbeing of displaced persons, including children.
“There should be items available to cater for children, women, nursing mothers and their babies, and the aged in case of evacuation; the state government must be at the forefront as the lead agency.
“There is a need for attitudinal change by residents because we have realised that whenever it rains, people release their waste into the drainages. People need to change their attitude to avoid blocking the drainages,” she said.
Dr. Sunday Nditoi, an environmental consultant in Uyo, urged residents to make use of the available receptacles provided by the government and not dump refuse into drainages.
Nditoi, who is a former state Director of Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, said all drainages and outlets should be opened.
He called on residents not to build or live in flood-prone areas to avoid worsening flooding, adding that there should be regular desilting of drainages by residents to prevent flooding.
He advised the state government to put in place a drainage system that would empty into the ocean, as the state is naturally prone to flooding.
The Gov. Umo Eno has intervened in the flooded portion of Atiku Abubakar Avenue in Uyo and directed the desilting of the drainages in the same avenue and across the state.
He also directed the construction of the adjoining Afaha Ube Street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene Road with immediate effect while instituting the monthly environmental exercise for a clean environment.
In Rivers, Mr. Eric Ebhodaghe, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, said the agency had achieved 90 percent readiness to mitigate anticipated flooding in both Rivers and Bayelsa.
He stated that the proactive measures included enhanced early warning systems, large-scale flood simulations, and community sensitisation campaigns to minimise the impact of potential flooding.
He explained that, following an early flood warning, NEMA had swiftly mobilised both human and material resources to reduce the potential impact of flooding in the two states.
According to him, the agency also downscaled the early warning to the state governments and to all local government areas, particularly those prone to flooding.
Ebhodaghe added that NEMA had held meetings with key emergency response agencies, including the military, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State and Federal Fire Services, and ambulance services, to ensure they were on high alert.
He also confirmed that NEMA had engaged with relevant state authorities on the management of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and the identification of safer grounds for potential relocation.
Other mitigation strategies include the provision of medical supplies, desilting of waterways and drainage channels, and engagement with local community volunteers to serve as first responders when flooding begins.