ASABA/Nigeria: The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have predicted that the year 2019 will experience heavier rainfall than last year.
A statement signed by the Director of Information, Mr Paul Osahor JP, said in order to check the incidence of flooding and erosion which usually accompany heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Environment has directed that all illegal structures including buildings and caravan blocking the natural waterways and drainage be removed.
The statement said based on the prediction and the warnings by NIMET and NEMA, the Delta State Government has advised people living in the river banks and low land areas to move to higher lands or places of safety.
According to the statement, the State Ministry of Environment would soon embark on the clearing of natural waterways, drainages and the demolition of illegal structures built on water ways to ensure free flow of water and reduce the incidence of flooding and erosion.
It called on authorities of local government councils, traditional rulers, community and opinion leaders in the state to step up preparedness against the flood prediction to reduce the level of destruction of property and to avoid loss of lives.
