NEMA DG Urges Residents in Flood-prone Communities to Relocate to Safe Locations

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has advised residents of communities at risk of flooding across the country to take proactive measures to safeguard their lives and property as the rainy season intensifies.

—Key Advisory—

Mrs. Umar said the current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding.

She urged residents to:
1. Heed early warning information issued by relevant government agencies
2. Relocate to safer, higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding
3. Avoid driving or walking through floodwaters
4. Refrain from dumping refuse into drainage channels
5. Promptly report emergency situations to the appropriate authorities for timely response

She stressed that preparedness and early evacuation remain the most effective ways of preventing avoidable loss of lives and reducing the impact of floods during the peak of the rainy season.

—NEMA Actions—

The Director General stated that NEMA’s Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations Offices have been directed to:

– Intensify community-based awareness campaigns on flood preparedness
– Strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), traditional institutions, and other relevant stakeholders
– Coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary

She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to continuous monitoring of the flood situation across the country and to working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely response and the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected persons.