BY MONICA OGBAUDU
A high- powered Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) committee has been inaugurated by the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, Comrade Warri Ovoke Friday as mitigating measures to tackle the looming flood.
According to him, the purpose was necessitated by the alarming report and series of warning from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) ahead the 2025 perennial flooding and the complex nature associated with recent disaster.
The committee, saddled with the responsibilities to strengthen preparedness and boost response capacity, is headed by the Secretary to the Local Government, Zino Osuofa with Nwokolo Emmanuel and Ighomore Hope as members.
Others are Mrs Alex Omu, Victor Amere, Mrs Evroro Emuobo, Francis Athameta and Akpodhoma Michael, Anthony Egodi, Ighokido Saturday, Rev. Ferguson Idike, DSP Ewende and Patrick Obegba.
He noted that, with the rainy season fast at its peak, Isoko south proximity to the River Niger and it’s numerous tributaries makes it highly susceptible to flooding adding that in order to avert large scale disruptions and losses, there is an urgent need to put a robust preventive measures in place by establishing a local emergency management agency at the grassroots level and that is what we just did.
“The newly constituted committee will work closely with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide rapid responses to natural disasters, issue timely warnings through media channels and map out flash flood-prone zones especially communities close to overflowing rivers. Residents will be kept informed and urged to take early action to safeguard lives and properties”.
“With this, the Isoko south council’s proactive stance, sends a strong message that early planning, community awareness and rapid response as earlier mentioned remains the best defense against the flood risks, intensifying across the nation hinted Warri
