The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) has listed fourteen local government areas in Anambra State as areas with high risk of flood disaster this year.

The areas include, Njikoka, Ogbaru, Idemili North, Aguata, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Onitsha North and South, Orumba North, Ayamelum, Anambra East and West.

Also tipped as areas of risk were Onitsha home of a pioneer president of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, that of a former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Orumba North Local Government Area, the home of the state governor, Willie Obiano in Anambra East Council, that of his predecessor, Peter Obi in Anaocha and the Aguata home of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.

Making the disclosure in Awka during a presentation of a paper on the 2018 Annual Flood Outlook at a sensitisation workshop, the Acting Director-General, Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr Olahinka Ogunwale, called on the state government and NEMA to intensify efforts to prevent the disaster from happening.

Ogunwale, who was represented at the event by the Director in charge of Engineering Hydrology in the Agency, Mr. Clement Nze, explained that flood disaster is inevitable.

He harped on the need for early preparation to reduce the impact the flood may cause, calling on residents’ to embrace attitudinal change towards the environment.

The Acting DG noted that the major factors that contribute to recurrent flood disaster in the state are overflowing of rivers, high intensity of rainfall, improper urban planning and floodplains, as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the waterways.

On his part, the Commissioner for Public Utilities in the state, Mr. Obi Nwankwo, urged residents to avoid acts that would encourage flood outbreak.

“The state government through the Ministry of Environment, Beautification and Ecology has embarked on massive desilting of drainages as well as partnering the World Bank in recovering of lands from erosion as part of its efforts towards preventing the recurrence of flood as witnessed in the state last year,” he added.

Participants in the workshop include members of staff from Ministry of Water Resources drawn from across the country, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and people from erosion-prone areas in Anambra State.