The National Emergency Management agency (NEMA) advocates for the relocation of Nigerians living in flood-prone areas to avert suffering the menace of intending flooding.

NEMA has directed the state government to effect the relocation disclosing that the imminent rise in the volume of water in rivers could lead to flooding and subsequent loss of lives and property.

The advice was given by the zonal coordinator of NEMA, Abuja, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, during a sensitization programme on strengthening of flood risk awareness campaign among vulnerable communities in Ilorin West local Government Area of Kwara State, at the weekend.

The NEMA coordinator, who also identified awareness campaign programme by stakeholders as the cornerstone of flood risk management among flood- prone and vulnerable communities in the country, added that ignorance of flood risks had encouraged people to live in flood plains and to abuse town planning regulations.

He said the agency had swung into action on different measures to reduce impact of flood to the barest minimum at vulnerable communities since the NIMET made flood predictions for 2013, adding that NIMET predictions had started manifesting in some parts of the country.

The Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Mr Ibrahim Abdulazeez, also urged those living in flood-prone areas  to heed government’s warning by relocating from such areas.