The stakeholders in the South-South region have stated that plans are in an advanced stage for the evacuation of flood-prone communities amid disaster predictions.

The stakeholders from Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers responded to a survey conducted by journalists on the extent of planning to check flood disasters.

They also said that they had desilted the drains, embarked on public enlightenment to sensitise the residents on actions to reduce flooding, and for the rural communities to prepare themselves for evacuation.

Speaking in Cross River, Mmandu Aisueni, head of operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Uyo Operations Office, said the agency had embarked on the assessment of the flood-prone communities.

She added that the assessment was to find out whether or not the residents in the identified communities were ready to be evacuated.

Ms Aisueni explained that in partnership with the state government, NEMA commenced the flood needs assessment programme in the three senatorial districts as a follow-up to a meeting earlier held on combating floods.

She added that at the end of the programme, they would do a report to the deputy governor, under whose purview is the State Emergency Management Agency, to take immediate action.

She also said that they instituted a programme titled, ‘’National Preparedness Campaign,’’ in respect of the 2025 flood prediction.

Ms Aisueni said that the state governments and their agencies were expected to cascade information to the local government areas that were identified as flood-prone.

She, however, said that they had visited two communities, Ojuk North and Ojuk South, earlier in July to distribute relief materials to residents who suffered losses from an earlier windstorm that was accompanied by heavy rainfalls.

Similarly, Moses Osogi, the state commissioner for environment, said that the government started preparing for the rainy season very early with the desilting of its drainages, especially in flood-prone areas.

He said that they also partnered with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to provide additional receptacle bins in the state to prevent waste disposal into drainages, adding that this increased the number of state receptacle bins.

“This was done to prevent complaints of not having a place to dispose waste and so, filling the gutters with them.

“We also upscaled our awareness campaigns using different media channels just to change the mindset of the people in waste disposal and building on flood channels,” he said.

Mr Osogi said that the state had also constituted a standing task force that would be going around to apprehend culprits of improper waste disposal in the state.

He said that among the objectives of the task force were to ensure that wastes were disposed of between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily and the proper evacuation of the wastes by designated trucks.

According to him, poor waste disposal had been a major challenge, fuelling flooding in the state, and they had to address it.

Also speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the NEMA head of operations, Ms Aisueni, said that measures had been in place to check flooding and save lives.

She said that part of the measures was the commencement of the sensitisation programme being carried out by NEMA and other stakeholders across the state to inform the people to make preparations in case of flooding.

She explained that other measures included involvement of radio stations to campaign on the importance of clean environments and desilting of the drainages, among others.

“NEMA has been on top of the situation, managing the 2025 flood prediction as released by NiMET and NISER, and our first point of call was to organise a response campaign, which took place in June.

“The sensitisation campaign was attended by all stakeholders involved in disaster management, including the deputy governor, Akon Eyakenyi.

“We had interviews and sensitisation on Excel FM radio station, sensitising the people of Akwa Ibom state on the flood prediction’s outcome and what is expected of them.’’

Ms Aisueni added that the Uyo Operations office was in communication with the commissioner for information, and had shared jingles and flyers with him for interpretation in the local languages and sending them to the local communities.

According to her, if you look around the NiMET prediction, you will see that it is mostly the local communities that are likely to be affected, like Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and the like.

Ms Aisueni added that NEMA earlier informed the commissioner for the environment of the areas likely to be affected by floods and for the state to prepare in the case of evacuation.

She explained that already, the agency had contacted the military and the 6th battalion had agreed to join NEMA team in case of emergency.

She said that they were to identify high grounds to be used as the state’s internally displaced persons’ camp to keep the people until the water ceased, while modalities to handle the emergency were in place.

Ms Aisueni added that the stakeholders were ready in case of evacuation and that the state government was urged to stockpile items for the well-being of the displaced persons, including the children.

“There should be items available to cater for children, women, nursing mothers and their babies and the aged ones in case of evacuation; the state government must be in the forefront as the lead agency.

“There is a need for attitudinal change by residents, because we have realised that whenever it rains, the people will release their waste into the drainage; people need to change their attitude to avoid blocking the drainage,’’ she said.

Sunday Nditoi, an environmental consultant in Uyo, urged residents to make use of the available receptacles provided by the government and not to dump their refuse into drainages.

Mr Nditoi, who is a former state director of environment, federal ministry of environment, said all drainages, outlets should be opened.

He called on residents not to build or live in flood-prone areas to avoid impeding flooding, adding that there should be regular desilting of drainages by residents to avoid flooding.

Assam Abia, a veteran journalist, called on government to apply modern technology to curb floods in the state.

Mr Abia added that deep underground drainage should be applied to checkmate flooding in the state, especially in Eket and its environs.

He advised the state government to put drainage system that would empty itself into the ocean, as the state is naturally prone to flooding.

Gov. Umo Eno has intervened in the flooded portion of Atiku Abubakar Avenue, in Uyo and directed the desilting of the drainages in the same avenue and across the state.

He also directed the construction of the adjourning Afaha Ube street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene road with immediate effect, while instituting the monthly environmental exercise for a clean environment.

In Rivers, Eric Ebhodaghe, South-South onal coordinator of NEMA, said that the agency had achieved 90 per cent readiness to mitigate the anticipated flooding in both Rivers and Bayelsa.

He stated that the proactive measures include enhanced early warning systems, large-scale flood simulations, and community sensitisation campaigns, to minimise the impact of potential flooding.

He explained that, following an early flooding warning, NEMA had swiftly mobilised both human and material resources to reduce the potential impact of flooding in the two states.

According to him, the agency also downscaled the early warning to the state governments and to all the local government areas, particularly those prone to flooding.

“We have also conducted a robust sensitisation and awareness campaign across various coastal communities and engaged relevant state governments for a collaborative response to the impending floods,” he said.

Mr Ebhodaghe added that NEMA had held meetings with key emergency response agencies, including the military, NSCDC, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State and Federal Fire Services, and ambulance services, to ensure they are on high alert.

He also confirmed that NEMA had engaged with relevant state authorities on the management of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and the identification of safer grounds for potential relocation.

Other mitigation strategies include the provision of medical supplies, desilting of waterways and drainage channels and engagement with local community volunteers to serve as first responders when the flood begins.

“NEMA has done quite a lot as part of our mitigation strategy to ensure minimal impact of the flooding.

“Given our level of preparation and the strength of our collaboration with stakeholders, we can confidently say that NEMA is 90 per cent ready.

“We appeal to authorities at the state, local government, and community levels to ensure they act responsibly and carry out their roles as expected,” Mr Ebhodaghe added.

(NAN)