The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has conducted a flood simulation exercise in Lagi community, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The exercise, held on Wednesday, was part of the Italian Government-funded Flood Resilience Project, which is being implemented in six high-risk states across Nigeria: Nasarawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, and Lagos.
Mr Aminu Bagudo, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Officer of NRCS Abuja, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening resilience in flood-prone communities. He explained that the simulation demonstrated practical evacuation techniques to help communities respond swiftly to flood emergencies, promoting the “Early Warning, Early Action” approach to prevent loss of lives and property.
“This year’s flood prediction is very high, so my appeal to government is not to wait until floods happen before rescuing victims. Let’s focus on prevention; that is the approach the Red Cross is adopting,” Bagudo said.
Also Read:Â NiMet Forecasts 3-day Rain, Thunderstorms from Monday
Mr Jerry Kuje, Secretary of the NRCS Nasarawa State Branch, urged residents of riverine and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations. He said the simulation was designed to raise awareness on safety measures communities could adopt while awaiting external support, and called on government to provide relief to affected persons and support organisations complementing official efforts.
Mr Ademuyiwa Oyewumi, Assistant Director at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), highlighted the role of technology in disaster management. “We monitor major rivers, especially the transboundary rivers Niger and Benue, using space-based data. This enables us to provide risk information ahead of floods,” he said, commending the Red Cross for the exercise.
Community members Abubakar Aliyu and Daniel Ayuba also thanked the NRCS, noting they had gained valuable knowledge on how to respond during flood disasters.
