The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged residents, particularly parents and motorists, to prioritise safety when travelling during rainfall, especially in flood-prone areas.
Head of Operations, NEMA Enugu Zonal Office, Mrs Priscilla Madukwe, gave the advice on Wednesday during an assessment of flood incidents and rising water levels in parts of Anambra.
Madukwe described the recent flood incident at Ring Road, Nibo, involving schoolchildren as heartbreaking.
She urged parents and motorists to allow floodwaters to recede before taking children to school or embarking on journeys in affected areas.
She also urged residents of riverine communities to remain vigilant as water levels at the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) base on the River Niger in Onitsha continued to rise.
“We advise residents in affected areas to remain prepared to relocate to higher ground whenever necessary,” she said.
Madukwe also visited the Ogbaru Local Government Area headquarters in Atani, where she inspected designated holding camps and other flood-prone locations.
Mr Nnamdi Esmai, Coordinator, Anambra State Local Emergency Management Committee, said some farmers had begun harvesting their crops as rising floodwaters continued to submerge farmlands.
Esmai appealed to the Federal and Anambra Governments to make adequate arrangements for the evacuation of residents whenever they are directed to move to safer locations.
It was reported that the NEMA team was accompanied by officials of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency.
