The Niger River water level is gradually rising, prompting the National Emergency Management Agency to warn riverine communities across Anambra State to remain vigilant and prepare to relocate to higher ground if necessary.
NEMA, alongside the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, inspected the River Niger to assess the flood situation and strengthen disaster preparedness in the state.
The Head of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, Priscilla Madukwe, issued the warning during a monitoring visit to the National Inland Waterways Authority in Onitsha on Friday.
The team inspected the River Niger water gauge to determine the current water level and assess the possibility of flooding in vulnerable riverine communities.
Madukwe said the Niger River water level had continued to rise gradually but remained within the safe limit at the time of the assessment.
“The water level of the River Niger is gradually rising, although it has remained within the safe limit at the time of the assessment,” she said.
She urged residents and relevant stakeholders to remain alert and avoid activities that could increase the risk of flooding in vulnerable communities.
Madukwe said the monitoring exercise formed part of NEMA’s proactive efforts to track developments around the River Niger and provide early warning information to communities that could face flooding if the water level continued to rise.
She stressed that regular monitoring of the water gauge would help emergency management authorities identify potential threats early and activate appropriate response measures before the situation became critical.
The NEMA official advised residents living close to the River Niger and other flood-prone areas to follow official updates from emergency management authorities and prepare to move to safer locations when necessary.
Madukwe emphasised that early preparation remained essential to reducing the impact of disasters. She urged residents not to wait until floodwaters entered their homes or communities before taking precautionary measures.
She explained that information gathered during the monitoring exercise would help NEMA, SEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders strengthen their preparedness plans.
The data would also support timely decisions if the Niger River water level rose beyond the established safe threshold.
“We appeal to residents to remain calm but vigilant, cooperate with emergency management authorities and take necessary precautionary measures,” she said.
Madukwe assured the public that relevant agencies would continue to monitor the River Niger closely and provide updates whenever they observed significant changes.
