The Federal Government of Nigeria has swung into action to mitigate the impact of impending natural disasters, particularly flooding in Southern Nigeria and earth tremors in the Federal Capital Territory.
Following recent earth tremors in Mpape, Abuja, which saw six to eight tremors occurring late at night with the main tremor recording a magnitude of 3.1, the government is taking proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, emphasized that while the tremors are a cause for concern, the real threat lies in the risk of widespread flooding in Southern states as the rainy season continues.
“We are at a critical juncture. Both natural and human-made factors are combining to increase the risks, and we must be vigilant. The time to act is now,” he warned.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated all zonal, territorial, and operation offices nationwide to work with States’ Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in conducting rescue operations and assessing the situation.
Moreover, NEMA has issued warnings to states in central and southern regions to prepare for potential flooding due to rising water levels in Rivers Benue and Niger.
The Federal Government’s focus is on preventing another major disaster, flooding, with rising water levels along the River Niger and intense rainfall forecasted for the coming weeks. Several states have already experienced flash floods, and the situation is expected to worsen without swift action.
To address this, the government is expanding drainage networks, reinforcing riverbanks, and enhancing collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies.
State governments are urged to take responsibility and implement necessary flood control measures, with the federal government ready to support in strengthening early warning systems and building flood-resilient infrastructure.
The Director General of NASRDA, Mathew Adepoju, praised advancements in space technology for detecting and mitigating natural disasters. “
We want to assure the public that we are actively monitoring the situation. The government is prepared to take appropriate action to protect the people.”
Citizens in high-risk areas are advised to remain alert, avoid flood-prone areas, and report unusual geological activity.
The government emphasizes that disaster preparedness is not just a federal responsibility, but also requires state and local governments to step up and safeguard their communities.
