Skip to main content

Akwa Ibom Government Must Listen To NEMA’s Warning To Avert Future Floods – Group Tells Governor Udom

udom
November 15, 2022

The residents, under the aegis of Ibom Progressive Forum, said the government must not wait for another round of flood disasters before putting in place proactive measures.

Some residents of Akwa Ibom State have asked the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led state government to yield to the warning from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to avert future floods from ravaging the state.

The residents, under the aegis of Ibom Progressive Forum, said the government must not wait for another round of flood disasters before putting in place proactive measures.

SaharaReporters had reported that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, also predicted that Akwa Ibom was one of the states which would experience floods in 2022.

“Hence, the public is advised to avoid low-lying terrains, not to drive through running water, clear waterways of debris, avoid standing under trees and unsecured structures during the rain, and switch off electrical appliances before the rains,” the agency had added.

Meanwhile, in a statement by Obong John Umoh, the Ibom Progressives Forum said that earlier in May 2022, NEMA carried out a post-impact assessment of the areas and obtained approval for relief materials to assist the victims to recover from the impact of the attack.

He added that some relief materials were received from NEMA in early November to support victims of flooding.

According to Umoh, "the relief materials received from NEMA include; 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, 1,000 bags of 10kg beans, 1,000 bags of 10kg maize, 75 bags of 20kg salt, 75 kegs of 20litres vegetable oil, 150 cartons of seasoning cubes and 75 cartons of tin tomato.

“Other items include; 8,000 pieces of nylon mats 1,000 pieces mosquito treated nets, 600 cartons of bar soap, 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade, 1,000 pieces of children’s wear, 1,000 pieces of women’s wear and 1, 000 pieces of men’s wear among others. This has gone a long way in ameliorating the sufferings of our people.

"The NEMA authorities handed over the reliefs in form of food and non-food items to the Governor of Akwa Ibom, including grains and garri from the Strategic Reserves of the Federal Government.

“On our part, we must avert future occurrence. Hence, the state government must yield to all the warnings of NEMA. This is not a time to be ignorant. All hands must be on deck.”

Topics
Environment