‎‎By CHARLES LWUOHA

‎‎Residents of Ebonyi State have called on the government to intensify preventive measures against possible flooding following warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that the state and eighteen others may witness flash floods due to heavy downpour.

‎‎The agency warned that prolonged dry conditions may harden the soil, reducing water absorption and increasing surface runoff capable of triggering floods in vulnerable communities.

‎‎Speaking exclusively to News Express on Friday, a resident, Chinedu Ngwuta, described the prediction as a timely warning, urging the government to strengthen public sensitization through radio programmes, markets and local dialect campaigns to protect lives and property.

‎‎Ngwuta further appealed to authorities to establish Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps for vulnerable residents, particularly farmers who may be unwilling to abandon their homes and farmlands without alternative shelter arrangements.

‎‎Another resident, Ukah David, blamed authorities for permitting construction in flood-prone areas, stressing that sustained public enlightenment is necessary as many traders and farmers still operate along waterways and other risky locations.

‎‎Reacting, the Commissioner for Environment in Ebonyi State, Victor Chukwu, said the government had already commenced measures to mitigate possible flooding across the state.

‎‎He warned residents against farming along waterways and urged communities to cooperate with environmental authorities.

‎‎According to him, the ministry has mapped out aggressive tree planting, drainage clearing and other preventive measures aimed at reducing the impact of flooding.

‎‎He observed that from the first rain in the state, some communities in the state including residents of Mbukobe have witnessed floods that destroyed household items.