7 hours ago
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The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has urged governments at all levels and Nigerians living in flood-prone areas to take urgent and proactive steps to mitigate the anticipated impact of the 2025 seasonal floods.
This was contained in a statement issued by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba.
The group expressed concern that the floods may worsen existing socio-economic hardships across the country.
This is coming amid recent predictions by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, which listed 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states, including 16 in the North and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as areas likely to be affected by floods this year.
“Communities without adequate preparations typically experience deaths, destruction of farmlands, property damage, disruptions to livelihoods, and food shortages.
“For 2025, the floods could not come at a worse time, given the dire economic and other existential constraints that citizens have been living with,” the statement said.
The ACF acknowledged ongoing sensitization campaigns by the Federal Government to alert the public on the looming threat.
It noted that such efforts were not visible in many communities, even as the rainy season is already underway in several parts of the country.
The Forum charged federal, state and local government agencies to intensify awareness and preparedness campaigns, and for emergency response and relief agencies to stockpile food, medicines, drinking water and other essential supplies for vulnerable communities.
It also called on authorities to ensure the repair of damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and markets before the floods hit, stressing the need for strict enforcement of planning laws, building codes and environmental regulations to prevent avoidable disasters.
“Incompetence, misconduct, dereliction of duty, quackery, and corruption must not go unpunished,” the statement added.
It further advised the citizens to adopt proper environmental and hygienic practices, avoid blocking drainages and water channels and refrain from indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
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