By Milcah Tanimu
The Nasarawa State Government has issued a directive for the evacuation of communities residing in riverine areas due to the looming threat of flooding. The directive was communicated through a statement released by Mr. Zachary Allumaga, the Director-General of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA), on Thursday in Lafia.
Recent developments include a communication from Cameroon to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicating their intention to open the floodgates of the Lagdo Dam.
To address the potential impacts of the impending floodwaters, the state government has taken steps to activate five speedboats assigned to flood-prone local government areas. These boats will be used for the evacuation of residents from riverine communities to higher ground, as a preventive measure to avert loss of lives and property, similar to what occurred during the 2022 flood incident.
Allumaga urged the communities located along the River Benue to temporarily relocate from their homes in the coming days. He called on local government chairmen, overseers of development areas, traditional and religious leaders in the affected communities to encourage their people to heed the evacuation order and move to safer areas.
The directive comes in response to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s instructions to states along the river’s frontline about the planned opening of the floodgates of the Lagdo Dam. NASEMA’s efforts are aligned with the state government’s mandate to prevent and mitigate disasters through various awareness-raising campaigns, evacuation procedures, and the provision of relief materials.
The agency has been proactive in sensitizing communities residing along the banks of the River Benue and other flood-prone areas, utilizing methods such as press conferences, press releases, interviews, and jingles to communicate the impending danger posed by floods. The state government, under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, remains committed to supporting disaster victims and taking preventive measures to minimize the impact of disasters.
