Flood-prone communities in Abia State and across Nigeria’s South-East face renewed calls to strengthen preparedness after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecast heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) urged governments, agencies, and citizens to treat the forecast as an urgent warning. Executive Director of the foundation, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor said: “Flood disasters are no longer isolated incidents. They are becoming a recurring consequence of climate change and environmental mismanagement. Every warning issued by NiMet must be treated as a call to action.”
FENRAD highlighted blocked drainage, poor waste disposal, unregulated construction, and weak investment in resilient infrastructure as major risks. Therefore, it asked governments to clear waterways, enforce sanitation laws, and invest in erosion control, watershed restoration, and tree planting.
In addition, the group pressed authorities to expand awareness campaigns through radio, television, social media, schools, churches, and markets. It stressed that residents must understand flood risks and adopt safety measures. Moreover, FENRAD called for stronger collaboration between NiMet, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local councils, and community groups to ensure timely warnings.
The organisation encouraged communities to form disaster risk management committees to coordinate preparedness, evacuation, and recovery. It also urged citizens to keep drains clear, report blocked waterways, and follow official advisories during heavy rainfall.
