The Delta Government on Friday urged residents in flood prone communities to relocate to higher planes to avert the impact of ravaging flood in parts of the state.

The Director-General, State Bureau of Orientation, Eugene Uzum, gave the charge at a news conference in Asaba.

Mr Uzum said that the state government was concerned about the safety of lives and property of its citizens, particularly those living in flood prone areas given the  Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s forecast  of heavy rains and flooding in the country.

According to him, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has approved the setting up of the Inter-ministerial Flood and Disaster Management Committee headed by Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah to mitigate the challenges expected by the impending ravaging flood.

He said the committee was saddled with the responsibility of sensitising the  citizens on the impending flood and opening, maintenance and management of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps throughout the state.

“You will recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have been consistent in their annual flood forecast and this year’s prediction is no exception.

“As a proactive government, the Delta Government led by Gov. Okowa has taken proactive measures to ensure that there is no loss of lives and minimal damage to property.

“In 2012 we had flooding that was very drastic across the country of which Delta had its fair share of the challenge and since then it has become a recurring decimal.

“The 2022 flood forecast is estimated at 3,000mm and 4,000mm and this is very huge compared to what we had in previous years.

“It’s important to note that the Office of the SSG and the Ministry of Environment have been monitoring the flood levels along River Niger and its tributaries,” he said.

Mr Uzum said that the state government was working with local government chairmen, traditional institutions and Presidents-General of communities in the state to further sensitise the people.

He said the state orientation bureau in conjunction with the Ministry of Information have continued to bring up-to-date information on the impending flood to the people.

“At the moment the water levels have moved up and the government has started relocating people to ensure that no loss of lives and minimal damage to property.

“We encourage our people who are at the lowlands to move to upland while crops should be harvested to avoid total loss of agricultural products.

“Today the floods are here and from available records, it has risen to 3,200mm and 3,400mm and expected to get to 4,000mm based on the forecast of NiMet and other agencies.

“So what we have done is to take this information to the people because of the challenges of ignorance and cultural beliefs and we are convinced that they would relocate accordingly.

“The setting up of IDP camps would be based on needs assessment going by the level of flood waters,” Mr Uzum said.

(NAN)