By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, with agency report
The National Emergency Management Agency yesterday alerted Nigerians that there would be another serious flooding in Nigeria next year except for the government at all levels, put in place, necessary precautions to prevent it from happening.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib, raised the alarm when he defended his agency’s 2023 budget before the Senate Committee on Special Duties.

This came just as the Niger Delta caucus in the House of Representatives asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq over her comment on the recent raging flood.

However, the NEMA Director-General lamented that early warnings given to the states in 2022 by NEMA were ignored.

Habib noted with concern that the actions of the government led to devastating effects in all the affected states.

He said, “Let me also use this opportunity to prevail on the committee to intervene on our behalf. We have written to states several times. This flood is still coming in 2023.

“They must be advised early to set up SEMA and local emergency committees and fund them adequately. We gave a similar warning last year but our advice was ignored.

“Despite early warnings issued to state and local governments whose areas are flood-prone, none of them took any positive step to guide against it.”

He explained that the Federal Government had opened up the nation’s silos and had released 12,000 tonnes of grains already which were shared with all the 36 states of the federation

He noted that state governments needed to do more in disaster management instead of abandoning it to the Federal Government.

Habib said the National Assembly should help to inform the state early enough to avoid other devastating effects.

He said NEMA lacked adequate personnel to handle disaster management. State governments should help. We do not enjoy hazard allowances.

A member of the committee, Senator Lilian Ekwunife, said it would not be possible for the National Assembly to tell states and local governments to put arrangements that could prevent flooding in place.

She said, “The National Assembly is an independent institution that is not answerable to any states. The states are also not answerable to us.

“We can only appeal to them but our constituents have a greater role to play by telling their state governments to act fast on the NEMA warning.

The Committee chaired by Senator Yusuf Yusuf, challenged the people of the affected states to hold their governors accountable because it’s beyond the mandate and jurisdiction of the National Assembly.

The lawmakers also urged NEMA to make a request for additional manpower through the head of the service to the president.

They also stressed the need to review the extant conditions of service of NEMA so that their staff could enjoy a special salary scale.

Another member of the panel, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, appealed to the states to use the huge financial resources at their disposal, especially the ecological funds to address the environmental challenges confronting them.

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*Bayelsa flood affects 1.3 million persons, kill 96, says Diri

In the meantime, the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), yesterday said the flood has affected no fewer than 1.3 million people in the state.

According to data released yesterday, by BYSEMA in Yenogoa, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The agency said no fewer than 1.3 million were displaced and compelled to seek refuge in temporary camps.

“As of November 4, 96 deaths were reported with Yenagoa Local Government Area worst hit,” BYSEMA Chairman, Mr Walamam Igrubia, said.

Igrubia added that the collation of data from the field was still ongoing.

“The flood affected several farmlands, school buildings, health structures, and other facilities. The flood also affected some 300 communities across the eight LGAs of the state.

“Preliminary reports and data available to SEMA and other agencies indicate that Bayelsa remained the most flood impacted among states in the country,” he said.

NAN reports that the agency said among the worst affected areas in the state are Biseni, Tombia-Ekpetiama, Tombia-Amassoma Road, Akenfa, Akenpai, Igbogene and Swali, all in Yenagoa Local Government Area, as well as Kaiama, Odi, Otuoke, and Ogbia communities.

Others include, Agbere, Odoni, Bulu-Oria, Agoro and Sagbama.

NAN reports that flooding hit parts of Nigeria in the last two months.

Some of the other affected states are Kogi, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia, Edo, Delta, Kogi Plateau and parts of Abuja.

The National Emergency Management Agency has said about 2.5 million persons are affected and over 603 persons were killed by the flooding in the country.