FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Sunday advised residents of the Federal Capital Territory to avoid Flood flash points during downpour.
The Director-General of the agency, Abbas Idriss, gave the advice during interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.
Idriss said the advise became necessary following recent floods in Galadimawa area, which led to the death of Director of Finance, FCT High Court, Anthony Okwechime.
He said the agency would scale-up its advocacy on the dangers of flood in prone areas, adding that the FEMA had temporarily blocked some routes leading to affected points in the city center.
“We are mapping out strategies to avoid further waste of lives and properties in flood prone areas. One of such strategies is to temporarily block some of the roads that lead to the affected areas in Galadimawa, Lokogoma and possibly Area 1 Roundabout.
“We are taking this measure because some motorists underestimate the strength of water and the danger it poses.
“To us, as agency saddled with the responsibility of saving lives and properties, the temporary closure of the identified routes has become paramount because it is better to travel longer distance and get to your destinations in safe condition than to take shortcut that will eventually leads you to death.
“We appeal to residents of the territory, especially motorists, to understand with us since the blockage will be for a short period as other relevant agencies are coming up with permanent solutions to resolve the perennial flooding problems.” he said
He commiserated with the families of the victims of the disaster and called on residents to call the toll free number, 112, during emergency situation.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Christian Ohaa, would address challenges and causes of consistent flood in the territory.
However, Idriss said FCT was not on the list of flood flash point states, but recent experiences had shown the need to brace to the challenge .
(NAN)
