The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) says it is taking measures to mitigate possible humanitarian crises in the event of floods and other disasters in the state.
Mr Zakari Alumaga, Executive Secretary of NASEMA, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lafia in an interview with newsmen.
Alumaga said that having received prediction and early warning on eminent flood from relevant authority, the agency had embarked on aggressive campaign to sensitise the people, especially those living in flood prone areas.
He said that the state government had acquired 44 trucks load of assorted food and other relief items as well as prepared places for camping in the event of floods.
According to Alumaga, the state has five flood prone Local Government Areas (LGA) and two flash-point LGAs that were affected during the 2019 floods.
“Natural disasters such as floods, landslide are inevitable, to mitigate humanitarian crises, we have bought 44 trucks load of assorted food items in reserve. We also secured transit camps in the event of any of these disasters.
“We are aware of the prediction and warning from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMeT), we are making provision for assorted foods and non-food items such as mattresses, beddings, blankets and toiletries so that when it happens, displaced persons can have some succour,’’ he said.
He said that NASEMA would sustain the awareness campaign on floods and environmental hazards associated with it.
Alumaga called on those living in floods prone areas to heed the warnings and move away from such places in order not to endanger their lives.
“We have been enjoined to look for houses in high places and prepare them in such a way that if there is floods we can move affected people there pending when the water level recedes before they can return to their homes,’’ he said.
He said that in August, the state recorded floods in three LGAs – Awe, Nasarawa and Toto.
Alumaga reminded the people that NiMeT had predicted that the state would witness heavy rainfall and floods in September, and urged them to desist from disposing wastes on water ways.
Edited By: Johnson Eyiangho and Isaac Ukpoju (NAN)
