The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised the Rivers State government to prepare for the 2023 flooding, predicting that 15 of the state’s local government areas will likely be flooded.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Godwin Tepikor, NEMA’s South-South Zonal Coordinator, gave the advice in an interview on Wednesday.
Tepikor referred to the February 17 annual flood outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which indicated that fifteen local government areas in Rivers state would be at high risk of flooding.
According to NiMet’s forecast, areas such as Port Harcourt, Obio akpor, Orashi region, and Ogoni communities are expected to experience flooding between April, May, and June.
Some LGAs in the state have been predicted to experience moderate flood risk, including Degema, Ogu/Bolo, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Akuku-Toru, Omuma, Etche, and Emohua. On the other hand, some areas have been projected to be at high risk of flooding; areas such as Ahoada East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Andoni, Bonny, Tai, Asari-Toru, Eleme, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual, Port Harcourt, Obio/Apkor, Ikwerre, Gokana, Okrika, and Oyigbo LGAs.
According to him, “From the prediction, some Council areas are expected to experience flooding from April, May, and June this year. As we go along this month, it is expected that there will be heavy rainfall which will herald flooding.
“I want to advise that government and residents should take advantage of the annual flood outlook to mitigate and avert losses of life and property through adequate coordination and flood early warning and sensitization campaigns.”
Overall, Tepikor stressed the importance of taking necessary precautions and measures to reduce the impact of flooding in these areas.
