Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has directed local council chairperson and relevant agencies in the state to take proactive measures to alleviate the suffering of residents with looming flood challenges.
Wike gave the directive in Port Harcourt on Thursday during a consultative meeting with the chairpersons, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials and Permanent Secretaries of concerned ministries.
Represented by Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government, the governor said that he was disturbed by the level of suffering people often undergo following such disasters.
He stated that the directive was to ensure early management of emergency situations that would arise from the flood predictions by NEMA and alleviate the suffering of Rivers people.
Wike has indicated high and low probable areas where flooding is predicted in 2019 include Degema, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Obio/Akpor, Abua-Odual, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, Akoku-Toru, Gokana, Opobo/Nkoro, Port Harcourt City, Bonny, Gokana, Oyibo and Etche LGAs.
“The early proactive measures are necessary to minimise emergency situations from the flooding. Residents and indigenes should adhere to the call to vacate when the flood begins,” he said.
