Edo Government has warned residents living in flood-prone riverine communities to move upland and take refuge in safe havens provided in selected local government areas of the state.
Mr Yakubu Gowon, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, gave the warning on Monday in Benin.
Gowon said that people living around river banks and riverine areas across Edo had been alerted to relocate as the water level was rising due to heavy downpour.
“Government has prepared the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camps for possible evacuation of residents living in these areas.
“They should be ready to relocate to the camps when the order is given by the state government,” he said.
The governor’s aide urged members of the public to take precautionary measures to forestall incidents that might arise from increased water levels.
He also urged residents to stop dumping refuse indiscriminately, avoid building on low plains and waterways, stop erecting structures on the moat and should not engage in excavation of any kind without approval.
Gowon said that the state government had identified riverine communities in Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North-East, Esan South-East, Estako Central and Etsako East Local Government areas as areas prone to flooding. (NAN)
