A delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja, on Friday visited Delta State to educate residents of flood-prone communities about the impending risks and mitigation measures. “A delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja, on Friday visited Delta State to educate the residents of some flood prone communities about impending risks and mitigation measures.” During the visit, the NEMA team first met with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who appointed the Commissioner for Special Duties to represent him at the sensitization program.
“The NEMA delegation first met with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who detailed the Commissioner for Special Duties to represent him during the sensitisation.”
Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, represented by Dr. Tickman Tenimu, Deputy Director, Special Duties, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to inform and sensitize members of the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies about flood predictions.
“Director General of NEMA Zubaida Umar represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties, Dr. Tickman Tenimu, said the purpose of the meeting was to inform and sensitize members of the state ministries, departments, and agencies about flood predictions.”
She highlighted the relevant predictions issued by NiMet on February 4 and NIHSA on April 10, which identified potential flooding in the state.
“The DG said relevant predictions were made by NiMet on February 4 and by NIHSA on April 10 regarding potential flooding.”
Umar emphasized that Oshimili South Local Government Area, specifically the Oko community, was identified as a priority for discussions.
“She said it was determined that Oshimili South Local Government of Delta State would be the focus area for the discussions. Umar said within that local government, the Oko community was identified as a key area for engagement.”
She explained that the predicted floods necessitated timely alerts and safety measures to help the community prepare.
“The director general said the upcoming floods are predicted, making it crucial to alert the community, considering its historical experience with flooding and their adaptive responses. She said the aim of the sensitisation was to educate the community about the impending flood risk as well as to provide timely alerts and advice on safety measures and preparedness.”
The Aneliaku (king) of Oko Kingdom, Ikejiora B.N.J, expressed gratitude to the NEMA delegation for their visit, emphasizing the community’s annual struggle with flooding and the need for long-term solutions like dredging the River Niger.
“The Aneliaku (king) of Oko Kingdom, Ikejiora B.N.J expressed the community’s appreciation to the NEMA delegation for coming to their area.
He said: ‘We are pleased with your presence here. We have heard you, we know it is a kind of annual problem we face here. Definitely, it is only God that can help us out of this. We are human beings, we will do our bit. We are the people feeling the impact of the flooding. Every year it looks like we are starting life all over again. We also want you people to talk to the authorities concerned. The reliefs you are giving us are good, but we need a permanent solution to our problem because if we have the River Niger dredged, it will reduce the effect of the flood. Whichever way your people can be of help, please continue to do it, don’t be tired, we cannot run from our ancestral land.'
In an interview after the sensitization, Dr. Tickman Tenimu emphasized the importance of the early warning messages, explaining that understanding hazards is the first step in protecting lives and property.
“In an interview with Dr. Tickman Tenimu, NEMA Deputy Director, Special Duties, after the sensitization, he recalled that on February 4 the National Meteorological Agency released their annual seasonal climate prediction and then on April 10th, the National Hydrological Agency also released their annual flood outlook.
Tenimu said as a result of those two predictions, the Director General had to assemble a technical meeting of experts between March 11 and 12 to analyse social economic and disaster risk management implications of the predictions.
He stated: ‘And with that, one of the things we gathered from them was the early warning message should be downscaled to the states, to local government and from there to the communities. First is the early warning message; when you understand its hazards, you will know that you need to prepare to protect yourself.’”