NEMA raises alarm over flood in 9 Benue local govt

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has predicted flooding in nine Local Government Areas in Benue.

Mrs Zubaida Umar, the agency’s Director -General, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi during the Downscaling of Flood Early Warning Strategies for Early Actions in the  State, said about nine LGAs may be affected by the 2024 flooding.

She said that three LGAs of Bururku, Makurdi and Guma would be the mostly hit.

Represented by Air Commodore Kennedy Mataluwo, the NEMA boss, said the flood may have impact on 31 States in the country with 148 LGAs been predicted to be within the high risk areas.

She stated that 35 States, including FCT with 249 LGAs are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas, while the remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted as  the low flood risk areas.

“NEMA’s records of flood incidents in Benue   shows that the state  has been severely impacted by floods, but for the 2024 rainy season, some Local government areas in the state  are still predicted to be affected by flooding.

“These LGAs,which are under high and moderate flood risk areas include Buruku, Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Tarka, Gwer West, Logo, Kwande and Katsina-Ala.

“They are already listed in the earlier NEMA communication to the Government of Benue.

“This underscores this flag off, in the State today. Accordingly, I call for support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation messages to the grassroots,”she said.

The D-G explained that these flood risk areas were presented with their degree of vulnerability to serve as a tool for government at all levels to develop risk reduction measures to avert disaster  during the rainy season.

She urged Nigerians to take actions that would drastically reduce the adverse impacts of floods on the entire landscape and the population, especially for most vulnerable persons living in communities identified to be at risk of flooding.