Governments in the South-South region, particularly Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa, are taking precautionary measures to avert widespread flooding and mitigate its impact on vulnerable communities.

The measures were sequel to a warning by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that heavy rainfall might cause severe flooding across 30 states.

In Edo, the Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (FEWMA) has ramped up mitigation efforts in flood-prone areas, such as Ekenwan Road, Uselu, Upper Mission Extension, and Auchi.

According to the agency’s chief executive officer, Ahmed Momoh, the desilting of major drainage channels and sensitisation campaigns have commenced.

“We are working closely with the state’s Ministry of Environment, local authorities, and community leaders to curtail early warning and educate residents on evacuation protocols,” Mr Momoh said.

In a complementary effort, the state has unveiled a six-month work plan under the €175 million EIB-funded Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).

The initiative targets gully erosion, land degradation, and flood vulnerability across Edo.

Mr Momoh noted that 10 per cent of the fund would be accessible during the initial phase, provided benefiting states meet key administrative benchmarks.

He said the state government has committed N500 million in counterpart funding to fast-track implementation.

In Delta, the state government has set up internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in flood-prone localities in Isoko North, Bomadi, Ughelli South, and Asaba and activated its flood disaster preparedness mechanism.

The state’s commissioner for environment, Jamani Ejiro, emphasised that the indiscriminate dumping of waste and selling of water channels for building purposes were the major cause of flooding in the metropolis.

A Flood Disaster Management Committee led by the Secretary to the State Government has also been activated, comprising commissioners and heads of emergency response agencies.

“We are prepared. Delta is a floodplain, and we always take precautionary steps even before NiMet’s seasonal predictions,” Mr Ejiro added.

In Bayelsa, residents call for proactive action as flood fears mount. In 2022, floods displaced over 1.3 million people, and as such, anxiety is growing as water levels rise in the Epie Creek and the River Nun.

Residents of flood-prone areas in Yenagoa, such as Azikoro, Ekeki, Swali, and Amarata, are urging the state government to act swiftly.

Environmentalists like Jude Jack and Godwin Ekubo appealed for stricter waste management laws and proactive drainage clearing.

They warned that plastics and construction materials blocking gutters compounded the flooding risk.

Responding to these concerns, Omuso Omuso, director-general of Flood and Erosion Control in the state, said the “Prosperity Administration” in Bayelsa had instituted systematic cleaning of drainages and is committed to reducing the impact of floods.

“We cannot eliminate flooding completely due to our geographic location, but we can minimise its damage through preparedness and coordinated response,” Mr Omuso said.

He added that the newly created flood control agency, in collaboration with the Ministries of Works and Environment, was already operational and addressing high-risk zones.

(NAN)