By Nosa Eresoyen, Asaba

The Delta State Government has taken steps to aver the recent prediction from the Nigeria’s Hydrological Services Agency and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which warned against fresh flooding in the state, especially in the riverine communities.

As it were,NEMA had warned that fresh flooding was emanating in some of the middle belt, and Southern States of the country including Delta State which magnitude was comparable to that of 2012. 

 But the state functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor in a statement he issued and signed on behalf of the state government a copy made available to our reporter, stated that the state government had taken steps to avert the imminent disasters, adding that no fewer than 6, 000 houses built on the water ways have been demolished. 

 Part  of the statement reads: “In view of the prediction, the Delta State Ministry of Environment has by this announcement, requested all owners of illegal structures such as buildings and caravans blocking natural waterways, and drainages to remove such structures”, stressing that demolition exercise to remove illegal structures built on natural waterways, and owners of such illegal structures will further continue as owners will be made to bear the cost of demolition, and evacuation. 

 Expectedly, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and NEMA’s warnings of imminent flooding are predicted on the alert raised by the Niger Republic of River Basin Authority (NBA) that the dam at that end is already full and that gives cause for riverines’ down stream and dams  in Nigeria especially in Benue, Lokoja and Kebbi States were full and the Kanji, Jebba and Shiroro dams have started spilling water, River Niger and its tributaries. 

 It further reveals that communities in Delta State will most certainly be affected by flood, especially communities along the banks of River-Niger as areas such as prone to flooding, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East and  West, North and South, Ughelli South, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani Aniocha South, Sapele, Warri North, South, Udu Local Government Areas will be worse hit. 

 The statement further reads: “in view of the predictions and the warnings by the Nigerian Management Agency, the Delta State Government has by this announcement advised people living in river banks and low land areas to move to higher lands or places of safety, accordingly, authorities of Local Government Councils in the state, traditional rulers, community and opinion step up preparedness against the flood prediction to reduce  the  level of destruction of properties and avoid loss of levels”.