At the recently concluded flood mitigation stakeholders summit hosted by FEMA, The Permanent Secretary of the FCT, Adesola Olusade noted that the need to carry out proper zoning of flood plains, adoption of different lives saving methods by FEMA which includes temporary barricading of some roads in locations that are prone to flooding and the mounting of Flood warning signs at high risk flood areas is essential to outrightly expel the ravaging impact of flood in the FCT.
The Nigeria Hydrological Agencies had earlier predicted that the magnitude of flood in 2023 is likely to exceed that of 2022.
The Director General of FEMA, Dr. Abbas Idriss in a swift reaction engineered the proliferation of these warning signs in all flood prone areas to warn off commuters from plying the roads during rains, these includes the volatile Galadimawa Interchange slip road, Lokogoma, Apo Dutse, Gudu, Dogon Gada axis.
Pengassan 1 Estate and iPent 2 estate which has recently experienced flash floods coming from upstream attracted three sign posts directing entrance, exit and linking residents, to avoid driving or walking through flood waters. At iPent 4 and R. G estate, a minimum of 2 boards has also been mounted to warn off commuters along with the Galadimawa slip road which has always had signs by the slip road.
This measure is also been put in place at other flash points in the FCT.
The Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme with her team of search and rescue members embarked on monitoring tour during the rains of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of June to ensure that there was no cause for alarm.
According to Wenegieme, “this is a routine monitoring function as instructed by the Director General to observe residents compliance to the warning signs as well as preemptive measures to ensure that Abuja residents were not at risk of any flooding incidence”.
Mrs. Wenegieme said the monitoring/assessment is routine after every heavy downpour.
The FCT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY calls on residents of the FCT to yield to warnings and desist from activities that could further derail the measures put together to ensure that the we experience another non-casualty flood season, for any emergency, call 112 toll free number.
Danson Magaji
Public Affairs