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Torrential Rainfall in Savannah: Yobe Towns Flooded

Over 4000 Households Affected, 9 Truckload of Relief Materials Presented : Climate Change is real as it continues to change the held notion about ecological environments as towns that are mainly dry savanna belt and close to Sahel are now experiencing unprecedented torrential rainfalls.

A team of experts from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend was in Nguru and Gashua Local Governments in Yobe State to assess damages caused by heavy rainfall that rendered residents homeless and destroyed farmlands.
While inspecting the areas, the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi told the traditional rulers of the community leaders to brace up to climatic challenges and mobilize their people to take proactive measures against future recurrence of the calamity.
Sani-Sidi said: “we are now living witnesses to the reality of climate change and global warming where areas considered as dry savannah are daily witnessing excessive torrential rainfall. What this portends is that we have to face the challenges by educating our people on the best approach to manage and mitigate negative incidence from the natural phenomena.”
“Here is a state that is in the dry savannah belt, dry and hot for most the year and bordering Sahel region yet experiencing heavier rainfall than in some southern parts of the country”
He said that climate change remains a serious environmental issue this year in Nigeria from the North to the West and South to East where heavy rainfall is causing havoc everywhere. “The inevitability of changes occurring due to the climate change is now a well-established reality. Scientific evidence has shown that as a result of climate change, extreme weather events like floods, windstorms, droughts and epidemics have become more frequent and severe. They occur in areas where they were previously either unknown or extremely rare. For us in developing world, climate change portends greater danger.”
“Virtually all states in Nigeria are grappling with flood. This is a clear reminder that we can no longer ignore disaster risks. Disasters constitute the greatest threat to development and socioeconomic well being of the people. We must all be prepared for it.”
The Emir of Nguru, Mai Mustafha Ibn Jari  and Emir of Gashua Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleman, while welcoming the delegation to their respective palaces stated that the torrential rain in the areas was unprecedented adding that collectively, over 4000 households were affected in two towns as they recorded a number of deaths.
The Zonal Coordinator of NEMA North-East, Mohammed Kanar confirmed that nine truckloads of building materials, clothing, food and beddings have arrived Yobe State for distribution to victims.

NEMA Nigeria

All correspondences should be addressed to: Public Relations Division, National Emergency Management Agency, No. 8, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Maitama, Abuja Email: nemapress@yahoo.com or info@nema.gov.ng

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