Flood: 44 persons died in 42 LGAs – NEMA

Flooding has claimed 44 persons in 42 local government areas across 18 States of the Federation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said in its latest report.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the NEMA Director General, made the disclosure in Abuja during the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting of stakeholders convened to review the current flood situation and strengthen synergy towards efficient mitigation and response strategies.
She expressed dismay over the ugly development, and underscored the need to strengthen partnership towards ensuring effective implementation of mitigation strategies and timely response to avert the tendency of more losses from the disaster.
She said: “as we receive full details of the flood update and cholera situation across the country today, it is expected that it will awaken us to take more proactive measures to save the lives of our dear citizens and be able to adequately respond in areas that have already been affected.”
Umar, while appreciating the commitment of the stakeholders, urged all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Non-Governmental Organizations not to relent in their efforts to ensure that steps were taken to reduce the impact of disasters across the country, especially flooding and cholera outbreaks currently being experienced.
The Director-General stated that NEMA had intensified efforts towards sensitizing the general public on the need to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the predicted flood disaster through awareness campaigns at the Local Government and community levels, as well as the media.
Mr. Trond Jensen, the Head of United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in Nigeria, assured the cooperation and support on the United Nations Systems in Nigeria work with NEMA in the management of disasters in the country.
Flood: 44 persons died in 42 LGAs – NEMA