The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, FEMD, says it has begun early response measures to reduce the impact of possible flooding across Abuja, following recent warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet.
NiMet had predicted that 33 states and the FCT could experience varying degrees of flooding during the current rainy season.
But the Acting Director-General of FEMD, Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, said the agency has received the flood outlook and is already reviewing areas identified as high-risk within the territory.
According to Mohammed, “The FCT has a high risk of flooding this year. What we have done is to study the document and identify areas that concern us as a city.”
He explained that the preparedness plan includes coordination with key stakeholders, continuous monitoring of water levels, and prompt emergency response where necessary.
“We will call all stakeholders together, share information and let people know what needs to be done. We will also monitor water levels every two to three weeks, and where necessary, we close roads or open them depending on the situation.”
The acting Director-General added that sensitisation would be intensified in flood-prone communities, with evacuation measures activated in areas where risk levels become severe.
“Those we need to relocate, we will relocate them. Those we need to move to safer locations, we will guide them,” he said.
He also addressed concerns over blocked drainages and indiscriminate dumping of refuse in parts of the FCT, noting that while waste management lies with environmental agencies, FEMD’s role remains coordination and emergency response.
“This is why we are calling all stakeholders together. Environmental agencies must clear waste and ensure proper disposal. Our job is to monitor flood situations and respond when necessary,” he said.
The agency assured residents that surveillance and preparedness efforts would be stepped up in the coming weeks as rainfall intensifies across the territory.
