By Samuel
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has indicated that the spate of flooding in parts of the country may have a devastating effect on the nation’s food security.
Director-General of the Agency, Muhammadu Mohammed made the assertion while addressing stakeholders at a flood advocacy visit to the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Thursday.
Floods in parts of Kebbi, Jigawa and Delta states had ravaged farmlands, destroying farm produce and stalling wet season cultivation, AgroNigeria reported.
According to Muhammadu, the floods have continued to threaten food production, seeing that Kaduna State is a large food producer.
The DG who was represented by the Assistant Director, Research and Forecasting, NEMA, Abdulahi Usur, urged residents to adhere to warning signals, as the heavy rains continue.
“We are here on an advocacy visit on the 2020 flood. Kaduna State is known to be one of the major food producers in the country with the citizens largely engaged in farming activities.
“This year, the highly probable flood risk areas in Kaduna State are Soba, Kubau, Jema’a, Kachia, Igabi, Kaduna South, Kaduna North, and Chikun local government areas.
“Though climate change has been largely blamed for this increasing phenomenon. It is our responsibility as government and people to evolve strategies to minimize losses through adherence to warning alerts, early preparation, and proper responses.
“Therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as the season moves towards the peak,” he said.
Meanwhile, NEMA’s NorthWest Coordinator, Abani Garki revealed that the agency has sensitised all key players, in addition to other preparations against flooding.