The National Emergency Management Agency Owerri Operations Office in collaboration with the National Inland Water ways Authority took a tour along the Oguta Lake and Orashi river in Imo State . The trip was to observe and monitor the rise in the level of the waters and reinvigorate the preparedness and readiness of the office and stakeholders to proactively respond to floods .
The joint team has enjoined the people and stakeholders to brace up for flood and evacuate to higher and safer grounds and to adhere to all the warnings from the relevant authorities.
The inspection shows a minimal rise on the volume of the water.
However, the NIWA desk officer in the area Mr. Onwuasoanya Chimaobi pointed out that the quick rise at Iberu from their findings in Anambra shows that the water will soon accelerate in the Imo areas and called for provision of stand by boats for quick evacuation of people from their farm camps in case of the floods. He added that the water is coming very fast adding that 15th of October might be the determining date for the worst .
Stakeholders during the monitoring were :
NEMA, NIWA, Boat Operators association, Marine Police Dredging and miners’ association
