By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has advised residents of areas prone to severe flooding to relocate from floodplains.
The advice is in response to recent deadly flood that has taken over parts of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The Minister in a press statement also advice that people should avoid traveling to flood-prone areas, follow evacuation orders, desilt drainage systems.
He noted that the 2024 flood season has been particularly severe, with many states across the country experiencing unprecedented levels of flooding, adding that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that over one million people have been affected, with thousands displaced and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed, thereby birthing a worrisome humanitarian crisis.
Other measures prescribed by the Minister is that motorists and pedestrians are cautioned to avoid crossing heavy run-off flow as well as cut-off highways, citizens should stay informed through official channels and adhere to flood forecasts/alerts and that all incidences of flooding should be adequately reported.
Lawal said the ministry working closely with State Governments, NEMA, and International Development Partners to minimize the impact of flooding as well as support affected communities.
