NEMA warns people to be careful as flooding continues in Anambra

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has told residents, especially parents and drivers, to be careful when traveling during rain, especially in areas prone to flooding.

Priscilla Madukwe, who heads operations at the NEMA Enugu Zonal Office, gave this advice on Wednesday. She spoke while checking flood incidents and rising water levels in parts of Anambra.

Mrs Madukwe called the recent situation at Ring Road, Nibo, where school children got stuck in a bus on a flooded road, heartbreaking.

She advised parents and drivers to wait for floodwaters to go down before taking children to school or traveling in affected areas.

Stay Alert in Riverine Areas

She also told people living in riverine areas to stay alert as water levels at the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority base on the River Niger in Onitsha keep rising.

“We advise residents in affected areas to be ready to move to higher ground whenever necessary,” she said.

Mrs Madukwe also went to the Ogbaru Local Government Area headquarters in Atani. She inspected holding camps and other flood-prone areas there.

Nnamdi Esmai, coordinator of the Anambra State Local Emergency Management Committee, mentioned that some farmers have started harvesting their crops as floodwaters keep covering farmlands.

Mr Esmai asked the federal and Anambra governments to make proper plans for moving residents when they need to go to safer places.

The NEMA team was with officials from the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency.