Calabar – The Cross River Government says it has taken some proactive measures against the impending flood in the state, as predicted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Mr David Akate, Deputy Director, Information, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.
NEMA had alerted Nigerian on the impending flood in the coastal states and other flood-prone areas in the country, following the discharge of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Akate said that the state government, through SEMA, had carried out a sensitization campaign in the flood-prone areas of the state which is traversed by six major rivers.
He said that SEMA had alerted the inhabitants of the areas to be very much prepared and if possible vacate the areas.
“Most of the inhabitants of these areas are subsistent farmers who produce rice, yam, cassava, corn, melon and vegetables.
“These coastline towns and villages are often vulnerable to flooding during the rainy seasons. This will surely be aggravated if the excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is discharged.
“No less than 60 towns and villages stand the risk of being flooded in at least 10 of the 18 local government areas of the state.
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“The most vulnerable areas are Obubra, Yala, Abi, Ikom, Etung, Biase, Odukpani, Yakurr, Calabar-South and Calabar Municipality,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that Cross River was under Category B of the states affected by the 2012 flood disaster in the country. (NAN)