The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Delta State Command has warned all Deltans, residing in flood – prone areas and communities around riverine areas to relocate to safer locations in view of anticipated floods due to expected increased rainfall in the coming months.

The Delta State Commandant, Mathew Sunday Ovye issued this advise while addressing pressmen in the State Command Headquarters, in Asaba.

Owing to the recent forecasts from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) indicating heavy rainfall and flooding from September to a good part of October, he urged residents of vulnerable, volatile, flood – prone areas, low lands and so on to urgently make arrangements to relocate to safer locations to ensure the safety of their lives and properties.

The projections by NIHSA is to enable Government and its relevant agencies at all levels work proactively with citizens nationwide to put standard measures in place to forestall any form of disaster or calamities that may arise in the event of the occurrence of the flooding.

Commandant Ovye has directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Officers, especially of Isoko North, Isoko South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Aniocha South, Patani, Warri South West, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West divisions, to sensitize members of the respective communities that are at risk and prone to flood disaster, on preparedness, mitigation, and response measures , respectively.

He also charged the Disaster Management Unit in the State Headquarters to work with Divisional Officers in engaging public enlightenment programmes to sensitize deltans.

He finally assured the public that NSCDC DELTA is poised to work with other relevant stakeholders both within Government and private Sector to avert all forms of calamities and casualties that may arise.