Impending flood: Benue govt directs residents to vacate floodplain, evacuate blocked drains

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA has directed all those living on floodplains across the state to vacate such places to safer areas.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Sir James Iorpuu issued the warning Sunday while reacting to the alert from the Federal Government to states on the impending flood following the notification from Cameroonian authorities of the release of water from the Lagdo dam on Benue River due to heavy downpour in Northern Cameroon.

Speaking through the Head of Administration of the Agency, Mr. Donald Komgbebda, the Executive Secretary said the Agency was intensifying its awareness campaign to have the people prepared for the impending flood.

He said: “What we are doing now is to intensify the awareness campaign across the state to ensure that all those on floodplains vacate such areas.

“We also have plans to take steps to mitigate the affect of the flood on the people but for now the priority is to get the people to safer places.

“Though we also have contingency plans and we will not allow our people be subjected to untold hardship following the flood. All stakeholders in the matter will be mobilsed to ensure that all hands are on deck to take actions to mitigate the impact of the impending flood.”

Governor Hyacinth Alia recently also appealed to all those on the banks of River Benue and floodplains to vacate those areas.

The Governor who spoke while flagging off the distribution of food and non food items donated by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to victims of the 2022 flood disaster in the state also appeals to resident to immediately commence the clean up of gutters and waterways in order to help mitigate effect of the flood in the state.

Views: 20

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *