The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recruited 10,500 volunteers in three flood-prone states to serve as first respondents to disasters to minimise losses in case of flooding.
Malam Mohammed AbdulSalam, NEMA Coordinator, North-Central, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Jos on Thursday that, 4,000 volunteers had been recruited in Benue, 3,500 in Plateau and 3,000 in Nasarawa State.
The three states suffered massive flooding that claimed several lives and destroyed livestock, farms, houses and other properties last year.
NIMET has warned of more rains this year and the high possibility of even worse floods in the areas that suffered the disaster last year.
A breakdown of the recruitment showed that Toto and Loko, two local governments in Nasarawa State, situated along River Benue, have 1,500 volunteers each.
Five local governments in Benue – Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Logo and Gwer share the 4,000 recruits while in Plateau, Wase, Shendam, Kanam, Mikang, Jos North, Langtang North and South local governments have 500 each.
AbdulSalam said that NEMA had trained the recruits and procured equipment they would require to carry out their duties.
“We expect the volunteers to quickly reach NEMA in the event of any flooding while taking steps to contain the situation and minimise the damage.
“We also expect them to guide the affected persons on what was expected of them in the face of such happening.
“Because we tend to suffer more losses in the confusion as people keep running helter-skelter for safety,’’ he said.
He said that NEMA would soon sign an MOU with INEC toward getting boats to ferry people to safety during the floods.
“We have also contacted local fishermen to be on stand-by as they would be contacted to help in rescue missions as part of our proactive steps to avoid the calamity that took us unawares last year,’’ he said.
He said that NEMA had also procured lots of relief materials, while workshops were also being held to prepare people for the worst scenario.
Abdulsalam said that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the nation from another destruction, and described what happened last year as `just unbelievable.’
“The effects of the floods were severe. It affected seven million people and killed 363 of them.
“It also displaced 2.5 million people and destroyed houses, farms, livestock and assorted property worth N2.6 trillion,’’ he said.
The NEMA official said that proactive steps had been intensified through radio jingles in all languages, especially during the peak period of the rains between August and October coming soon.
“We are taking nothing for granted and leaving nothing to chance. We have met religious and traditional rulers and have been collaborating with them in those proactive steps.
“We have also asked people living along waterways and river banks to change their abodes to avoid any disaster,’’ he added.