Report by Aliyu Muraki; Editing by Basirat Memudu
Nasarawa State Government has warned residents of riverine communities to evacuate from the flood high-risk areas to avert loss of lives and livelihoods in the event of flooding.
Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency-NASEMA, Barrister Benjamin Akwash, gave the warning while speaking with newsmen in Lafia, the state capital.
According to him, the warning becomes necessary following the latest flash flood alert issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency-NiMet, which is expected to happen in 19 states including Nasarawa.
The NiMet has warned Sokoto, Nasarawa, Lagos, and 16 other states to experience flash flood risks in July due to increasing rainfall.
He maintained that, the release, a high-risk state is Sokoto, with notable states to include: Nasarawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Benue, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River.
Barrister Benjamin Akwash advised residents to prioritize their safety above the long-held beliefs in ancestral homes and move to high ground to safeguard their lives, property, and livelihoods.
The NASEMA boss said the agency was looking ahead to procure speed boats and canoes, along with other safety kits to help in facilitating the evacuation of people from flood risk areas to safer ground in the event of flooding.
He warned residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainage and building on waterways, urged them to take precautions seriously to mitigate the potential impacts of flooding on their lives.
