FEMA Set to Embark on Tour of Flood Prone Areas in Abuja

By: Prudence Okonna

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is set to embark on a tour of flood-prone areas, even as the rainy season is expected to commence in May 2023, to assess and take proactive steps towards mitigating the floods in the Territory.

This was made known in a statement issued to newsmen by Head of  Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, Monday in Abuja.

Dr. Idriss explained that the 2023 annual flood outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, (NIHSA), puts the FCT and 178 other local governments in the country in highly probable flood-risk areas.

His words: “We intend to assess the infrastructural improvements made by the Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA), and other stakeholders towards preventing or mitigating the impact of flooding in the FCT”.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure that floods, even when it happens, would not have devastating impact on the lives and property of the residents,” he added.

“You will see that since the last rainy season, we are still working to remove shanties to open the blocked waterways to allow free flow of water when the rain comes,” the statement stressed.

According to the FEMA Boss, the ongoing demolition exercise is premised on the Agency’s assessment and findings on the blockage of waterways with illegal structures.

He said that the assessment and findings had helped FEMA to have a “No fatalities” record from the 2022 flooding in FCT