The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has urged Nigerians, especially those concerned to heed government agencies’ warning about flooding and its dangers.
The Delta State Director of the Agency, Comrade Tracy Omamode Ikolomi reiterated this admonition on Thursday, while addressing pressmen in the Agency’s State Headquarters office in Asaba.
Ikolomi gave the admonition ahead of the Agency’s preparation to sensitize the public on flood alert and safety precautions and other relevant stakeholders of the recent discharge of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon reservoir and the need to stay safe.
The NOA Director emphasised that it had become imperative to intensify grassroots advocacy and sensitization to communities in the frontline areas.
Comrade Ikolomi noted that with the flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Agency, it is important to create awareness and also identify safe high grounds for evacuation of communities at risk.
The NOA helms-person in Delta State also pledged the Agency’s support for Delta Bureau of Orientation by engaging critical stakeholders with necessary information that will assist them.
According to Ikolomi “The Nigerian Hydrological service Agency (NIHSA) has indicated that Cameronian authorities have informed Nigerian that the Lagdo Dam is overflowing, which could cause significant flooding and environmental damage in Nigeria. Therefore, the National orientation Agency ( NOA) is alerting the populace especially the Frontline States which includes Delta State on precautionary measures of sensitizing residents to evacuate from the flood prone area. We want to ensure the drainage system is well – maintained and clear of debris.
Adding, she said “We want Reinforce or build flood defense such as levees, dikes and barrier, adhere to building regulations that require structure to be flood resistant, especially in flood prone areas and stockpiling of essential emergency supplies like food, water, medicines, and first aid kit at easily accessible locations.”
While warning that the release of water may complicate the situation further downstream as Nigeria inland reservoir, including Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro are expected to overflow, so frontline communities are expected to evacuate for their safety and comfort during these period, Ikolomi noted that “The Ladgo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon have commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir with a likely flooding of some states in Nigeria.”