The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, says his administration has intensified efforts aimed at strengthening the swift response of relevant agencies to mitigate flood risks and other predicted disasters in communities.
Speaking while receiving a delegation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday, 25 August, Retired Vice Admiral Ibas referenced the recent flood simulation exercise conducted in Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area, aimed at raising local awareness and improving preparedness.
While reflecting on the devastation of floods in previous years, which displaced hundreds of thousands, destroyed farmlands, and isolated communities, he emphasised the importance of preparedness to mitigate such impacts.
He thanked NEMA for their collaboration and stated that his administration has already started rehabilitating IDP camps, desilting canals around Port Harcourt, and strengthening waste management in the state through RIWAMA.
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Vice Admiral Ibas pledged to the establishment of the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency, which he noted will bolster the disaster response capabilities of the state.
The leader of the delegation, Dr. Onimode Bandele, Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting at NEMA, praised the flood simulation exercise in Mbiama as the best-organised in the state, noting the effective deployment of local and state resources.
He explained that the strategic presence of two NEMA offices in Port Harcourt, which he noted was to serve Rivers and Bayelsa States, while the other one was to serve the zone.
Dr. Bandele also pledged to continue supporting and synergising with the Rivers State Central Working Committee on Flood Management and Control for 2025 to minimise the negative impact of flooding in the state
