The Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has called on the federal government to pay compensation to victims of the 2012 flood disaster in the state.
Making this call during the visit of a delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to him, he regretted that the federal government was yet to respond to the list of persons who lost their means of livelihood to the flood, which was earlier submitted to it.
The delegation was in the state on a sensitisation visit over an impending flood as recently forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).
Obiano further sought the assistance of the agency towards equipping the 28 IDPs centers already set up by the state, adding that the state government, through the Ministry of Health, was working on a mechanism for smooth evacuation of persons in cases of flood.
He said, “NEMA should be proactive in its plans towards tackling the impending flood by preempting possible challenges and mitigating them as well as developing an early warning system so as to alert the inhabitants of the flood-prone areas on time.”
The South-East Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, Enugu office, Mr Walson Brandon, said the visit was a fallout from a meeting between NEMA and other critical stakeholders on the flooding situation in the state four months ago.
He however expressed optimism that the visit would assist them in the mapping of the Holding Centers to ensure that all flood-prone parts of Anambra were covered.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo revealed that the Holding Centers were located at high grounds in eight Local Government Areas.
He listed the local government areas as; Ayamelum, Anambra East, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru and Awka North.
Odenigbo however stated that another center was being constructed by the federal government at Nzam, and Anambra West.
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