• Ekiti, Osun to demolish buildings on waterways
• Taraba relocates rice farmers from Benue trough
• Temporary camps in Kaduna, Anambra
Following the recent flood alert by the Federal Government and the heavy rains that wreaked havoc on a Local Government Area in Niger State, many states have intensified measures to safeguard their residents and communities.
In Ogun and Ekiti states, illegal structures along waterways are to give way, while in Akwa Ibom and Zamfara, task force teams have been put in place.
The governments of Anambra, Kaduna and Taraba set up temporary camps for emergencies that might arise.
Other state governments have either commenced sensitisation of residents or de-silting of drainages, especially in their capitals and urban centres
In Lagos, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Government, said the state was preparing for the rains.
He told a national television station yesterday that earlier demolitions of structures on drainage paths saved the state from ‘’what could have become a disaster.’’
‘’Citizens must also take ownership. We have parts of Lagos where we tell people they can’t build. They must not see demolitions of illegal structures as a form of punishment,’’ Wahab said.
He added: ‘’We know that Lagos will experience heavy rainfall and we are preparing for it. People must know that floodplains and wetlands are not places we can afford to live. Climate change is a real-life issue.”
The commissioner, who commiserated with the people of Mokwa, said the state would not stop appealing to residents to stop blocking drainage with waste and illegal structures.
• Ekiti
The Urban and Physical Planning and Local Government ministries are already marking illegal structures on waterways for demolition.
Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye gave the directive for the exercise during the flag off of a stakeholders’ engagement on the 2025 Flood National Disaster and Response Campaign (NPRC), organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
Afuye expressed regret that the state witnessed devastating cases of flooding, fire and thunder disasters in some towns last year and this year.
She recalled that NiMet listed the state as one of the possible flood flashpoints this year.
The developments, according to her, make it expedient for the local governments to ensure regular desilting of waterways, construct flood barriers, prevent desertification, encourage tree planting, stop residents from building on flood-prone paths and encourage community-based disaster strategies.
Afuye also advised chairmen of local governments to work with traditional rulers to preach an anti-flooding campaign across the state.
“NiMet predicted that Ekiti State is one of the states that may likely be affected by flooding this year. I am, therefore, appealing to all stakeholders to take proactive measures in preventing the occurrence of flood disasters in our dear state,” she said.
• Osun
The Ademola Adelake-led government is also to demolish illegal structures along waterways and rivers
Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, said the government was determined to prevent flooding and other natural disasters in the state
Adejoorin added that the clearing of waterways had already started to ensure that flooding was not recorded in any part of the state.
He said:’’We have started dredging our waterways and removing the debris that may hinder the easy passage of water long ago in all the 30 local government areas across the state.
“To residents who built houses in swampy areas, river banks and along waterways, you should move now before you use your comfort to destroy lives and properties.
“It is illegal to build your house along riverbanks and waterways. We are writing a notice to them for removal. We use relevant sections of the law to remove the illegal structures, so we are telling them now to move.”
He also said that the sensitisation programme, as well as the engagement of community leaders to discourage the dumping of refuse on waterways, had commenced.
• Taraba
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Saviour Noku, told The Nation that persons, especially rice farmers, living along river banks are to be relocated and encouraged to practice dry season farming.
He said the government was being proactive about the situation.
His words: ‘’We have been able to relocate people living along the River Benue trough. They are mostly rice farmers who have been encouraged to engage in dry season farming.
“As of last week, there was sensitisation. SEMA officials were going around with a NEMA team for advocacy and sensitisation. We have put in necessary types of machinery in place.
According to him, the officials visited known flash points such as Lau, Mayo Renawo, Karim, Ibi, Wukari and Donga. “Recall that last year, you didn’t hear of any case in Taraba because of the pro-activeness of the ministry.’’
• Anambra
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Paul Odenigbo, listed the establishment of ‘’holding centres’’ and sensitisation of residents of flood-prone areas as some measures put in place by the government of Chukwuma Soludo.
He said: “We’re aware of the alert from the NIMET and other relevant agencies, and we’re already seeing the signs.
“We’ve set up committees which have been meeting to fashion out modalities to ensure residents of flood-prone areas are not taken unawares by the deluge.
“We are also putting different holding centres at different locations in proper conditions to ensure they are conducive for accommodating as many victims as possible.
“Although some of them are always reluctant to move to safer grounds until the 11th hour, we keep appealing to them to heed the advice to avoid regrets.”
• Plateau
Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Peter Gwom, said that dredging, gully reclamation, and drainage construction are ongoing to prevent flooding during the season.
Gwom said clearing of gutters and waterways is also being carried to ensure free water flow of water
He added that the ministry, in collaborating with the state Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), has increased awareness and enforced environmental compliance for a flood-free Plateau State.
The commissioner said, “The government, through its agencies, is doing everything to avert flooding in the state this year.
‘’Apart from sensitising the people on indiscriminate dumping of wastes in gutters and waterways, we are dredging and expanding water outlets and gutters to ease and free flow of water during this rainy season.”
• Kaduna
The government has created seven ‘Safe Haven Centres’ across the state for a swift response in case of any eventuality.
It said the centres have basic facilities and relief materials
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (KAD-SEMA), Usman Mazadu, disclosed these in a telephone interview with The Nation.
Mazadu added that the government had taken several preventive measures to ensure that floods do not happen in the state.
He stated that dredging and clearing of waterways have been extended to all flood-prone areas in the state.
His words: ‘’We believe that, with that measure in place, we will not experience flooding this year.”
“We are also encouraging all the necessary stakeholders, agencies like the Red Cross, to sensitise residents of the flood-prone communities, to desist from blockage of the waterways either by erecting unapproved structures or by dumping of refuse.
“Other state government agencies like the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS) and Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) are also in the field, enforcing compliance with the urban planning regulations.
“All these efforts notwithstanding, Governor Uba Sani has, through the Ministry of Environment, approved the establishment of seven Safe Haven Centres to respond swiftly in case of any eventuality.
• Delta
In Asaba, the state capital, desilting has already started by the Ministry of Environment.
Director of Administration and Finance, Delta State Emergency Management Agency, Daniel Okpor, who made this known, added that the agency was reaching out to relevant stakeholders on actions to be taken.
He revealed that a stakeholders’ meeting is expected to hold before June
Okpor said: “If you look at the state, it’s like an estuary, it’s undulating, it is a lowland. Right now, we are contacting our stakeholders. In Asaba, desilting has already started.
“We are expecting a stakeholders’ meeting before the 15th of June, which will involve stakeholders in the state and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). We will come together to discuss the way forward. “If you talk about anything flooding in the state, the state is ever ready.
“Part of our preparedness is giving information. We have jingles, we talk. We discovered that some people don’t listen and adhere to instructions.
“There are people whose places are prone to flooding, but they refuse to leave such places. Some parents are careless with their children. We had such an issue about three years ago, the child was discovered three days in a river.
“People in our environment don’t listen to instructions and adhere to them. If they adhere to them, I don’t think all these things will happen.’’
• Ogun
Ogun State Government and Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority have commenced the sensitisation of residents on the dangers of floods.
Those carrying out the function recently underwent training at the O- ORBDA headquarters in Abeokuta.
During the training, O-ORBDA’s Managing Director, Adedeji Ashiru, advised against indiscriminate waste disposal, building on flood plains and blocking of water channels by people.
He said: “Floods are not merely natural disasters – they are often man-made crises amplified by poor waste management and inadequate drainage.
“We all have to desist from throwing refuse into waterways, the challenge of building on water paths is also there. All of these wrong behaviours are contributing to the challenge of flooding because water will have to find its way.’’
• Yobe
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Geographic Information System (YOGIS) and other key partners rolled out a comprehensive strategy focused on early warning, community engagement, and infrastructure reinforcement.
SEMA’s Executive Secretary, Mohammed Goje, said the measures are specifically designed to reduce displacement, protect vital agricultural lands, and safeguard lives and critical infrastructure in highly vulnerable Local Government Areas (LGAs) like Gulani, Geidam, and Yunusari.
“A cornerstone of Yobe’s preparedness is the significant enhancement of its early warning systems. SEMA, in close collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and NIHSA, has established real-time river flow monitoring stations along key waterways, notably the Yobe River, to provide timely flood alerts,” he said.
The SEMA chief added that apart from the use of technology, intensive community sensitisation campaigns have been launched in high-risk communities such as Gagure, Balle, and Sabon Gari in the high-risk LGAs.
The Nation also gathered that the state has solidified its response framework with a comprehensive 2025 Flood Contingency Plan.
• Nasarawa
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Margaret Elayo, said the government has directed all residents in flood-prone communities to relocate to higher ground.
“We are partnering with all the 13 local government council chairmen and traditional rulers to show those affected by this relocation directive where they should go now for safety,’’ Elayo revealed.
She added that television and radio stations would be used by her ministry to sensitise residents on the dangers of residing in flood-prone areas.
The commissioner added that traditional leaders and other stakeholders would also be engaged to pass anti-flooding messages to the people.
• Akwa Ibom
The administration of Governor Umo Eno set up a seven-member committee to ensure that drainages in the state capital and urban centres are disilted for smooth passage of water.
The committee, which is headed by the Commissioner for Works, Prof Eno Ibanga, is carrying out the task with
The state’s Ministry of Environmental and the Sanitation and Protection Agency.
• Bayelsa
Director-General of the State Directorate of Erosion and Flood Control, Omusco Omusco, said the agency has carried out disilting and opened up drainage channels to allow for a natural flow of rainwater.
He added: “There is no cause for alarm in the state. Desilting and opening up the channels are some of the measures we normally adopt in combating floods. So, no problems at all.
“We are ahead of the Federal Government’s warning. Apart from some of the measures we have put in place to tackle flooding, a lot of work is going on in Yenagoa, the state capital and many other places. We are not only dealing with floods, we are also dealing with erosion.
“We know what we are doing. We are on top of the situation. We have really opened up a lot of places, and when rains come, they will naturally go.”
• Katsina
Executive Secretary, Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, Binta Dangani, said ‘’part. of the measures in place by the government include the construction of drainage systems and the sensitisation of citizens on flood and erosion control.
She added that landlords and those building houses are also being sensitised on proper building cultures
• Niger:
The government said that it would soon start evacuating people in communities along river banks and increase sensitisation of others on the dangers of blocking drains.
Governor Yakubu Garba made this known on Monday.
Report by From Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado-Ekiti; Toba Adedeji, Osogbo; Justina Asishana, Minna; Duku Joel, Damaturu; Simon Utebor, Asaba; Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta; Elo Edremoda, Warri; Victor Gai, Jalingo; AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna; Augustine Okezie, Katsina; Emma Elekwa, Onitsha; Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia; Bassey Anthony, Uyo; Okungbowa Aiwerie, Yenogoa; Linus Oota, Lafia and Kolade Adeyemi Jos.
