According to the National Emergency Management Agency, windstorms in Adamawa have damaged at least 9,733 homes in 2024.
This was revealed in a Saturday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola by Mr. Ladan Ayuba, the NEMA Head of Operations in Adamawa.
He stated that an assessment has been carried out by the organisation in the impacted local government areas, which include Fufore, Jada, Hong, Mayo-Belwa, and Madagali. For their own protection, Ayuba also asked locals living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground or safer locations.
He stated that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s forecasts that 2024 would see flooding in several states, including Adamawa, made the warning necessary. According to Ayuba, the LGAs of Fufore, Yola-North, Yola-South, Girei, Numan, Lamurde, and Gombi are the most likely to be impacted.
“For your safety, please avoid flood-prone areas, stay on higher ground and stop dumping refuse in waterways,” according to him.
The NEMA official also recommended households to get into the habit of listening to the radio for pertinent information and following the agency’s recommendations.
“To avert a cholera outbreak, do not consume or wash clothes with flood water. “People should only return home when the authorities say it is safe to do so because we are experiencing flood as a result of the release of water from Lagdo Dam of Cameron Republic” , according to him.
Ayuba stated that sensitization was ongoing and urged traditional leaders to support the government’s efforts by ensuring that the word reached their followers, as some do not have access to media.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, while immediate response and relief are vital, there should also be a concerted effort towards sustainable development practices that address the root causes of such vulnerabilities.
Investing in resilient infrastructure, enforcing environmental regulations, and integrating climate adaptation strategies into urban planning are necessary steps to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
