The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has advised residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer and higher grounds.
The states at high risk, according to the agency are; Kebbi, Niger Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar has also directed all NEMA offices covering communities along the River Niger to intensify advocacy and mobilisation for flood preparedness. 
She explained that the awareness campaign was necessary following alerts of rising water levels in the upstream of the river in the Republic of Benin.
The Head of Press Unit of the agency, Manzo Ezekiel in a statement yesterday stated: “The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed all NEMA offices covering communities along the River Niger to intensify advocacy and mobilisation for flood preparedness following alerts of rising water levels in the upstream of the river in the Republic of Benin.
“In an urgent directive conveyed to the operations offices, Mrs. Zubaida Umar instructed them to sensitize communities to remain vigilant and advise residents in high-risk flood plains to evacuate to safer, higher grounds, especially those in Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states that share borders with Benin Republic.’’
She urged the state governments of the identified high-risk areas to support their Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in activating contingency plans and preparedness measures to mitigate the potential impact of this year’s flooding.
The DG reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to ensuring coordinated actions to safeguard lives and livelihoods along the River Niger.
Meanwhile, the agency has also confirmed the rescue of 41 persons and four deaths from the recent boat mishap in Goronyo, Sokoto State.
