The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged riverine communities in Nasarawa State on the fringes of River Benue to relocate to higher grounds in view of the impending flood.

Lanre Onilu, the director-general of NOA, made the appeal during a media and stakeholders engagement on “Flood Safety Alert” on Sunday in Lafia, the state capital. 

According to him, the appeal became necessary considering the rising water level in River Benue due to the release of waters from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

Mr Onilu, represented by the director of planning, research and strategy, Yusuf Kobi, explained that the stakeholders engagement was to intensify sensitisation for the flood frontline states to take precautionary measures to avert loss of lives and property

“We are here to monitor the flood safety alert campaign by our various offices in the 11 flood frontline states across the country, of which Nasarawa State is one.

“We started with Kogi, followed by Edo, Anambra, Benue and here we are in Nasarawa today, the same campaign is on going in Rivers, Cross River, Adamawa and Taraba states respectively.

“We are sensitising the riverine communities to be proactive, we should not allow what happened in 2012 and 2022 to happen again, where many lives were lost and thousands of houses were submerged,” he said.

The director general, while appreciating the support of the stakeholders, called for a robust collaboration with the traditional rulers and the media to amplify the message to save lives.

Also, Priscilla Gondoaluor, director of NOA in Nasarawa, said the state had experienced its share of the flood disaster within the last three years with attendant loss of lives and property.

She appealed to flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures such as evacuation, cleaning of drains, building of flood defence barriers, and stockpiling essential supplies like foods, water, and first aid kits at easily accessible locations.

“All our offices in the 13 LGAs are already out, particularly in the flood prone areas, creating awareness. Our jingles in English and in indigenous languages are already on air.

“We are also embarking on advocacy visits to traditional and religious leaders,” she said.

On his part, a traditional ruler, Sunday Namo, the Aren Koron Kuje, commended NOA for the initiative and said it would add impetus to the flood awareness already started by the traditional rulers.

(NAN)