ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), has warned residents of flood-prone areas in Abuja to relocate immediately following a heavy downpour that submerged parts of a residential building in Mabushi District.
The agency also urged residents to clear blocked drainage channels and remove structures built on waterways to prevent further flooding disasters as the rainy season intensifies.
Acting Director-General of FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, issued the warning in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
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The statement, signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, said the advisory became necessary after an early morning rainfall caused flooding in Mabushi.
Mohammed said a one-storey building located at No. 22 Anthony Ikem Street was submerged up to window level, destroying household items, foodstuff and important documents belonging to residents.
He disclosed that FEMD’s Search and Rescue Team was deployed to the scene after a distress call was received at about 3:00 a.m.
According to him, the rescue team had to manually evacuate floodwater from the affected apartments after a pumping machine attached to their generator failed to start.
Mohammed confirmed that no loss of life was recorded in the incident but stressed the need for urgent preventive action by residents living in vulnerable locations.
He further admonished residents to take precautionary measures and comply with safety directives to avoid avoidable disaster as rainfall activities increase across the capital territory.