The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has stepped up efforts to monitor water levels along the Orashi River in collaboration with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), as part of measures to reduce the impact of flooding in Rivers State.
The Orashi River is a major contributor to the annual flooding experienced in the Orashi axis, which includes Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, and Abua/Odual Local Government Areas.
Speaking with our correspondent, the South-South Zonal Coordinator and Acting Director of NEMA, Eric Ebhodaghe, said the agency is working proactively to ensure it is prepared to assist residents in flood-prone communities if the need arises.
He urged state governments to take primary responsibility for implementing flood prevention and mitigation measures aimed at safeguarding lives and property during the rainy season.
Ebhodaghe also called on the Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities to ensure that drains and waterways, particularly in urban areas, are regularly cleared of obstructions to minimise the risk of flooding.
