The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has asked Nigerians resident on flood plains, particularly those by River Benue, to move to higher grounds.

Salako made this call in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Ibrahim Haruna, following the Flood Prediction issued for October 3 to 7, 2023, by the Federal Ministry of Environment National Flood Early Warning Systems Hub.

The minister stated that reports from Adamawa and Taraba states had shown that the predicted flooding was already taking place, hence, the need for urgent actions by all stakeholders in flood management nationwide.

Salako called on the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Affairs, the Red Cross/Crescent, the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the Federal Ministry of Health,  the State Emergency Management Agencies, among others, to activate their Flood Emergency Response Actions.

These response actions, according to Salako, should be geared towards awareness creation, evacuation, provision of basic needs and temporary shelter, as well as providing medical attention and facilities.