The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a fresh warning to residents of flood-prone communities in Oyo State, urging them to immediately relocate to safer grounds as heavy rains threaten massive flooding.
The agency’s South-West Zonal Head of Operations, Kadiri Olanrewaju, gave the directive on Thursday during a stakeholders’ roundtable on flood preparedness and response held in Ibadan.
Olanrewaju said the warning followed forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which predicted intense rainfall across several parts of Oyo State in the coming weeks.
According to him, at least six local governments including Ona-Ara, Lagelu and Surulere have been identified as high-risk areas where residents must take urgent precautions.
“We have seen devastating floods in parts of Niger State and across the North. Oyo State cannot afford to be caught unprepared,” Olanrewaju said.
“Our directive is clear—those living in vulnerable areas must move now before the waters rise.”
He explained that the roundtable, convened on NEMA headquarters’ orders, was designed to review past response efforts and agree on fresh strategies to minimise losses if the disaster occurs.
The Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), represented by its Administrative Secretary, Ojuolape Busari, assured of the state government’s readiness to work closely with NEMA.
She said the government had already deployed sensitisation campaigns at the grassroots to encourage communities to clear drainage channels and waterways.
Also speaking, NEMA’s South-West Director, Saheed Akiode, stressed that the agency would strengthen community-based disaster response, involving local government chairmen, traditional rulers, faith-based leaders and civil society groups.
“We are leaving no stone unturned. Everyone must be part of the early warning and early action process to reduce the impact of floods,” he stated.
Stakeholders present at the meeting included officials of the Federal and State Fire Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Red Cross, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Police, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and representatives of local communities.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Oyo, like several other states, has recorded recurring cases of deadly floods in recent years, with homes, farmlands and infrastructure often destroyed.
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