Red alert issued for Abuja over imminent flood

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has urged Abuja residents to heed to early warnings issued on prevention of flood, in order to ensure that impending disasters are averted.

In particular, some residents, especially those on lowlands and other areas prone to flooding in places like Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Abaji, and Kuje, should begin moving to higher grounds to escape disaster.

This alert was raised against the backdrop of the recent flooding that claimed many lives in the adjoining city of Suleja, Niger state, and the possible spill-overs on the Nation’s Capital.

Briefing newsmen, FEMA Director, Mr. Abbas Idriss, said that the agency was worried because, beside paying deaf ears to the warning by residents, human activities that encourage flooding were on the increase within the territory.

He noted that the agency has consistently carried out sensitization campaigns in all the flood-prone areas to ensure that looming disasters are averted.

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According to him, “It is imperative for all the residents to adhere to all the early warnings. I am not happy that people are to responding well to the early warnings we issued to them.

“At the moment, we are prepared for any eventuality. We are concentrating much effort on the Area Councils, because the places are far from the city centre where we have response team.

“We have also embarked on recruitment of volunteers for emergency prevention and management. The Agency has provided 112 toll free emergency line for every FCT residents to take advantage of.”

Meanwhile, reeling out the achievements of the agency within the last two years, Idriss said “it saved property worth N3,103,600,000.00, in 2015, and N2, 465, 400,000.00, in 2016 respectively.

“ The agency saved a total of 172 lives during rescue operations in 2015 and 163 lives in 2016. All relating to residential, businesss, school, office, bush, bomb blasts and other related fire incidents from members of the public in the FCT.”

Ehisuan Odia………..

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