VANGUARD
Following the alarm raised by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, that Cameroon has opened the Lagdo Dam, residents of 11 states have been gripped with fear.
Their anxiety stems from the likelihood of flooding, which could destroy lives and property.
The panic was largely informed by the fact that previous incidents of flooding owing to the opening of the dam left scores with bitter experiences.
Up until this moment, victims of last year’s devastating flooding have yet to fully recover given the scale of damages the disaster left in its wake.
To avoid destruction like in the previous years, NEMA urged residents of 11 states in flood-prone areas to relocate to safe places.
The agency said the identified states are located downstream of River Benue.
18 million cubic meters
It disclosed that Cameroon has opened the dam at the rate of 200 cubic meters per second, adding that the level is about 18 million cubic meters of water daily.
Consequently, NEMA called on stakeholders to commence evacuation immediately, adding that government would continue to work with other partners to mitigate the impact.
The affected states include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Anambra.
Others are Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.
Findings by Sunday Vanguard in these states revealed that residents are not taking the relocation call seriously while no concrete step has been taken in that regard by government.
However, virtually all the states were found to have sensitised their people long before now.
DELTA:
Delta State government has inaugurated a 14-man 2023 Flood Disaster Management Committee with a mandate to propose appropriate measures for the prevention and management of flooding.
The committee is also to address the displacement of people and suggest ways for the provision of relief materials to victims.
The committee has the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, as its Chairman and Commissioner for Special Duties, Ejiro Terry, as Co-Chairman.
Emu disclosed that plans were underway to set up camps in the flood-impacted areas to accommodate those who may be affected by the impending flood.
