NiMet Warning: Yobe CSOs, SEMA Intensify Campaigns, Measures On Averting Flood Disaster

Concerned with the damages caused by flood disaster during last year’s rainy season, the Network of the Yobe Civil Society Organisations (NYCSO) have embarked on aggressive campaigns and advocacies to communities as well as governments on the need to avert the catastrophe this year.

Statistics from Yobe SEMA indicated that the Flood disaster had in 2022 affected over 31, 262 households across 255 communities from 17 LGAs of the state, while 10 roads and drainages linking various towns and villages were washed away during last year’s rainy season.

The executive director of the Network, Comrade Baba Shehu while speaking to me on the issue said the campaign and advocacies by the organisation was necessitated by the warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Nimet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on possible flooding across some states including Yobe during this years rainy season.

Shehu said, “Yobe State is among the states predicted and warned against impending flooding and thunderstorms by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). We, as CSOs believed that the only way to avert or minimise losses is by creating awareness on the risk factors of flood disaster.

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“Our campaigns to communities focused majorly on local government areas worst affected by the disaster last year through sensitisation, on the need to clear blocked drainages and waterways for free flow of water in addition to discouraging living on water ways or river banks.

“We have equally made advocacies to front line government agencies charged with the responsibilities of mitigating the effects and impact of the disaster on the need to be proactive by beefing up their preventive measures in addition to the repairs and rehabilitation of roads and drainages destroyed by the flood last year,” the ED said.

Speaking on the matter, the executive secretary Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Dr Mohammed Goje said the agency has as part of its proactive measure on averting the disaster, organised a flood preparedness meeting with 13 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), CSOs and Humanitarian partners.

Goje said the 2023 flood warning came at a time when community vulnerability is high due to the impact of the 2022 flood, which created huge gaps and challenges as the impact of the disaster on crop production and displacements among other challenges, increased vulnerability of the affected population.

“NiMet, NIHSA vis-a-vis NEMA dissemination for country and state outlook, has shown areas of concern and call for action. His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, has since the dissemination of the flood prediction outlook directed SEMA to intensify action and ensure that prevention and mitigation measures are activated to reduce impact.

“During the meeting, we resolved that while community mobilisation and awareness on flood and AWD/Cholera is ongoing across the state, there is a need to scale up the information sessions. SEMA, WASH Sector, ministry of Health, ministry of Information and NOA to meet bilaterally and work out modalities of increasing awareness raising sessions across the state among others.”