LOKOJA – Mrs Alice Ogedengbe, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), assured that the agency was fully prepared to contain any possible flood in the state this year. Ogendegbe disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja.
She said that the agency, in collaboration with the state Flood Management Committee, was on daily monitor of the water level to avoid being caught unawares.
She said that the recent reports of flood in parts of Benue, Kebbi and some other states were as a result of heavy rains.
She added that the Cameroonian dams had not released the quantum of water that could cause flooding.
Ogedengbe said the affected victims of the recent flood in some states were those who built on flood plains as water would always have its right of way.
She said that measures had been put in place to forestall the 2012 experience.
“Presently, there is no cause for alarm. Generally, SEMA is prepared for any eventuality and we are checking the water level on daily basis,” she said.
Ogedengbe said the agency, in collaboration with Flood Management Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, had carried out sensitisation campaign to the nine local governments areas affected by the 2012 flood.
The sensitisation, according to her, includes radio jingles and leaflets with messages aimed at alerting the communities on the need to imbibe safety measures. [eap_ad_1] She said that the team recently visited some flood-prone areas to assess the situation.
The secretary also hinted that they were in contact with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and management of dams in the country to monitor of the release of water.
Ogedengbe said the agency would not relent in its efforts to sensitise the people on the need to avoid building on flood plains and waterways.
She, however, appealed to the management of the Cameroonian dams to release water on gradual basis rather than at one full swoop to avoid the 2012 nasty experience. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]