Abia Government Intensifies Efforts to Mitigate Flood Risks — Gov Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has assured residents that his administration is taking proactive steps to minimize the impact of anticipated flood disasters across the state.

Speaking through the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Umuahia, Otti said the government is investing in infrastructure projects such as road construction, drainage systems, erosion control, and the clearing of blocked gutters to reduce flood vulnerability.

He emphasized the importance of early warning systems and community sensitization, urging participants to disseminate information from the meeting to residents at grassroots levels. “Dissemination of early warning messages to our people is key to reducing the devastating impacts of floods,” Otti noted.

The governor said the meeting was timely, especially in light of recent flood forecasts issued by relevant federal agencies. He stressed that building citizens’ resilience and preparedness was a top priority for his administration.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar—represented by Director Walter Brandon—highlighted the agency’s commitment to disaster mitigation. He revealed that NEMA has rolled out strategies including the training of local emergency responders and the promotion of rainwater harvesting techniques.

In his welcome remarks, SEMA Executive Secretary, Sunny Jackson, said the meeting aimed to coordinate actions across stakeholders to prepare for and reduce the impact of the expected floods.