The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) has urged residents of riverine communities at risk of flooding across the state to move to higher ground to prevent loss of life and property.
Benjamin Akwash, the director-general of the agency, issued this advice on Friday during a three-day advocacy and awareness campaign on Early Warning and Response Mechanisms in flood-prone areas of the state, held in Awe Local Government Area.
Mr Akwash explained that the sensitisation effort was prompted by the 2024 seasonal rainfall prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which identified Nasarawa as one of the states at a high risk of flooding.
He called on stakeholders, including traditional leaders, to lend their support to the awareness campaign by using their influence within their communities to encourage residents to take necessary precautions.
Mr Akwash highlighted the most flood-prone local government areas as Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, and Toto, which are situated near the River Benue. He also indicated that certain parts of Lafia, Karu, Akwanga, Keffi, and Wamba could experience flash flooding during the season.
He urged those affected to heed the warnings and relocate from vulnerable areas, emphasising that “one must be alive to achieve their goals and aspirations.”
“Earlier this year, NiMet predicted that over 200 local government areas across the country are likely to face varying degrees of flooding. In Nasarawa, Awe, Doma, Nasarawa, and Toto are particularly at risk due to their closeness to the River Benue.
“Whenever we receive such forecasts, the agency launches early warning and sensitisation campaigns across the affected areas.
“Our visit to these palaces today is part of ongoing efforts to educate riverine communities about the need to move from unsafe to safer locations,” Mr Akwash stated.
He noted that NASEMA is collaborating with the state’s Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services to provide relief to those recently impacted by flooding.
Jerry Danjuma-Kuje, secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Nasarawa Chapter, also underscored the importance of heeding early warning messages and prioritising evacuation to safeguard lives and property.
In his remarks, the Andoma of Doma, Ahmadu Oga-Onawo, described the sensitisation campaign as timely, given the recurrent devastation caused by flooding in Doma and other areas of the state.
He urged district heads to communicate the message to their communities and called on the state government to prioritise flood mitigation by constructing drainage systems and responding swiftly to affected areas.
Similarly, the Sarkin Tunga, Muhammad Ibrahim-Shuaibu IV, commended NASEMA for its early warning initiatives, noting that the Tunga community has faced repeated flooding due to the annual release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
He appealed to both federal and state governments to establish a refugee camp and rehabilitate the Awe-Tunga road, which he deemed a vital route connecting Nasarawa to Taraba, Plateau, and Benue states.
