Photo: Leadership

NEMA issued a flood alert

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has ordered an immediate evacuation of citizens living along the River Niger plains.

The states at risk of the flood are: Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta.

The Head of Public Relations department of the Agency, Yushau Shuaib explained that the alert came because the dams have attained their highest water levels in 29 years which is unprecedented in the history of Jebba and Kainji hydroelectric power dams.

He lamented that "information available indicates that the gauge for monitoring the flow of water in the river has already exceeded the maximum height by over one meter."

"The threat has created a high risk of imminent flooding in the downstream of the river", he added.

According to him, a rapid assessment team comprising officers of NEMA and the stakeholders has left for Jebba and Kainji to further inspect the situation.

He advised that: "The residents of the communities are urged to move to higher grounds for safety."

Shuaib said the agency had notified the affected states to take the necessary precautionary measures by relocating people from the flood prone areas and activated the National Contingency Plan as well as alerted all stakeholders to take necessary actions in line with their various mandates.

"The states are to ensure compliance with the threat in order to avert imminent loss of lives and properties that would certainly arise in the event of flooding", he warned.