Agency urges Nigerians living near rivers Niger, Benue to relocate

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has emphasized that people living around River Niger and River Benue banks should relocate immediately to safer locations, due to the high floods to secure their lives and property.

According to a statement released on Friday, Umar Mohammed, the NIHSA Director-General, urged citizens to take immediate actions to mitigate the risks of the high floods and river overflows.

He advised the people to do the needful by clearing the drainages and gutters to prevent future floods.

In his words “We must heed the agency’s warning by doing the needful — clearing our drainages and gutters as well as making way for water run-off”.

In addition, the DG reiterated NIHSA’s mandate for effective water resource management. He said “NIHSA will continue to monitor daily the water levels of our major rivers and tributaries, issuing flood warnings and alerts along with3 providing flood predictions”.

He acknowledged the joint efforts of NIHSA, emergency response agencies, and the media to protect lives and property across the nation. He emphasized that the collaboration is important due to ongoing heavy rains.

“It is an effort to help save lives and property of Nigerians in order to abate flood impact, enhance food security, promote national resilience to flood thereby fostering sustainable water resources management”, he said.