The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned citizens, especially those living in flood-prone areas, to vacate to safer locations in preparation for the impending flood predicted by relevant government agencies.

Kadiri Olanrewaju, NEMA’s head of operations, South-West zonal office, Ibadan, gave the warning on Thursday in Ibadan during a stakeholders’ discussion on flood preparedness and response in Oyo state.

Mr Olanrewaju noted that the engagement became necessary following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) of possible heavy rainfall in some parts of the state.

According to him, the aim of the meeting is to rub minds with critical stakeholders in disaster management to assess and improve their level of preparation.

“We have experienced a series of flood disasters in Northern Nigeria, Mokwa town in Niger state and down west to be specific.

“We have been instructed by NEMA head office to organise a roundtable discussion with all stakeholders to identify how we can do it better if it does occur.

“About six local governments, which include Ona-Ara, Lagelu, Surulere and others, have been predicted to experience flooding during expected heavy seasonal rainfall.

“The roundtable session will come up with a resolution on how to mitigate the impact of the flood and forward the decisions to the authority at NEMA headquarters for implementation,” he said.

Ojuolape Busari, the administrative secretary for Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), expressed the readiness of the state government to work with NEMA and other stakeholders in the area of personnel and equipment simulation for effective disaster management.

She revealed that SEMA had invested in grassroots sensitisation on drainage and waterway clearing across local government areas in the state to mitigate flood risks.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the South-West director of NEMA, Saheed Akiode, noted that the roundtable discussion was a follow-up to previous flood preparedness and response initiatives.

He added that the meeting aimed to assess the progress made by stakeholders in their area of specialisation as disaster managers.

According to him, the meeting will come up with new strategies for effective disaster management, such as community actors’ inclusivity and grassroots responder mobilisation.

“We are leaving no stone unturned and we are doing everything possible within our reach. We are engaging the community leaders, the people in authority, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and faith-based organisations.

“The move is to ensure that everybody is informed in line with the early warnings, so that we can arrive at early actions to mitigate the impact of the flood,” Mr Akiode stated.

Stakeholders at the meeting include men of the Federal and State Fire services; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Red Cross and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Others include the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the media, the Nigeria Police Force, local authorities and community representatives.

(NAN)