BREAKING: Heavy rains loom in 2021- FEMA alerts Abuja residents

As the rainy season gradually sets in, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has emphasised the need for residents to prepare for the rains and avoid environmental practices that could lead to flooding in their environment.

Speaking with newsmen in his office Thursday on FEMA’s preparedness for the rainy season and prevention measures put in place by the Agency, Director General FEMA, Alhaji Abass Idriss, stated that preparedness and sensitisation remains the key toward reducing disaster to the barest minimum in the FCT.

He appealed to residents to desist from acts that could lead to flooding this rainy season, especially indiscriminate waste disposal into water channels and rivers, building on water ways and river banks as well as diverting water channels.

On pro-active action plans being made by the Agency for the rainy season, Idriss said that FEMA does not rest at the end of any rainy season, but always bring its stakeholders together to review and take stock of cause of events, identify gaps and proffer solution for the relevant stakeholders to swing into actions.

He revealed that NIMET has predicted that the Northern part of country should expect rains from May and June this year, while the coastal areas expects rain from 1st of March, but that the rains will not last longer in the year. He therefore advised Argicultural and Extension Officers to sensitise farmers on this and provide for them crops that are suitable for the season to avert food insecurity, which could also result to serious disaster.

Idriss appreciated FEMA’s stakeholders for ensuring that all hands are on deck to prevent disasters in the FCT. He also commended FEMA trained Vanguards, Volunteers and Local Divers, who proactively respond to emergencies, adding that, with their help and that of the traditional rulers, FEMA has been able to sensitise the rural communities and reduce severity of disasters tremendously in the FCT.

Idriss stressed, that while waiting for Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency detailed outlook on floods for this rainy season, it is important for residents to join hands and complement the efforts of the FCT Administration to prevent flood disasters in the FCT, adding that residents have vital role to play as major stakeholders in emergency prevention and mitigation.

He advised them to always clear their drainages, engage in proper disposal of refuse, avoid building on flood plains and river banks, avoid driving or walking on running waters, even as he appealed to all residents that are in distress to call the Toll Free Emergency Number (112) to report any emergency for quick and prompt response.

He said: “Everyone is a stakeholder in this disaster prevention efforts and FEMA has created a high level awareness amongst FCT residents, through several media platforms to establish the consciousness of disaster prevention and mitigation rather than management. This yields better result, because community participation by residents in disaster management will bring about greater results.

“Residents will notice lots of clearing around the city since the last rainy season, removal of illegal structures, desilting of drainages, expansion of narrow drainages, removal of waste from dump sites as well as removal of anything that could block water from flowing well. This shows that the FCT Administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure no life is lost to flooding this rainy season, but residents also have a role to play.

“If you follow the trend of our response, you will discover that some of the flood issues of 2019 did not reoccur in the same locations, except new ones that came up in different locations. Such locations like Area One and Lokogoma flood issues were taken care of, after identifying the obstacles.

“We also mounted reflective flood warning sign posts at the flash points to sensitise and warn residents from driving or walking into a running water. Some of our monitoring personnel at all locations are surveying the city for monitoring and reporting situations in and around their areas and report feedbacks from the residents.

“This year, we have devised another means of reaching out to the communities – through the recently launched FCTA Citizens Participation Portal for quicker reach out and prompt response.”