The director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, has been called upon by the House of Representatives to address the predictions of 2023 flooding. The invitation was prompted by a motion presented by Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila during the Abuja plenary session. Gbajabiamila emphasized the importance of NEMA briefing the House on strategies to prevent flood disasters and manage their socioeconomic impact on vulnerable areas.
The motion, titled “Need to Commence Active Measures to Mitigate the Probable Devastation of a Severe Flood Season and Prepare Palliative Intervention to Prevent the Worst Socio-Economic Consequences for Nigerians in the Affected Areas.’’ highlights the recurring nature of annual flooding affecting significant parts of the country. Gbajabiamila stressed the extensive damage caused to lives and properties. He referred to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s early rain predictions and expressed concern over the highly probable flood risk areas identified by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency for 2023.
Gbajabiamila pointed out that a vast number of houses and farmland were destroyed. To mitigate the loss of lives and socioeconomic hardships, the lawmaker called for collaborative efforts between the federal and state governments and emphasized the importance of proper preparation.
The House urged the federal government to coordinate with relevant agencies to relocate residents from flood-prone areas and ensure the availability of temporary shelter materials, food, nutrition items, and medicine to support affected individuals. Additionally, NEMA was encouraged to facilitate effective communication and collaboration between the federal and state governments to effectively tackle the issue of flooding in the country.
