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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said the country will witness flood this year.

Though the level of the flood and locations to be affected is yet to be ascertained, the agency said early preparation would mitigate the likely impact.

Last year, the country witnessed a flood, which led to the deaths and displacement of many people across the country.

To however mitigate the impact, some staff of NEMA and other critical stakeholders in disaster management are undergoing training to aid their preparedness and response during emergencies.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed stated this in Abuja on Monday at a seminar organised for NEMA stakeholders.

Speaking on floods and efforts made to mitigate its impact, Ahmed said: “Records indicate that 662 persons have lost their lives, 3,174 others have suffered injuries and 2,430,445 individuals have been displaced by the floods. Thousands of houses, hectares of farmlands, and several critical national assets were destroyed by the raging floods.

“It is going to flood again this year, there is no doubt about it but how severe it going to be is what we don’t know for now but it is going to flood again”.

On how to mitigate the impact of the flood, he said: “After this training and the release of the Seasonal Climate Prediction by NiMet and the release of the flood outlook by NIHSA, we will gather stakeholders to analyse and interpret them and then attach vulnerable areas mapping and send it out to States. We will write to the governors.

“We have seen one or two mistakes from our engagement last year. We have to collaborate with all the States and we cannot work if NEMA is moving on one side and the States are moving on another side. We have to collectively work together.

“So, we will identify areas and show them (governors) the areas that will be affected.”

He also said NEMA in collaboration with State governments and other partners are currently working towards the long-term recovery of impacted communities across the nation.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has apologised for the delay in Abuja-Kaduna train movement on Monday.

Pascal Nnorli, Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) issued a statement after complaints by passengers.

Nnorli explained that the delay was due to a shortage in the supply of diesel.

He said the AGO received fell short of the standard required and was outrightly rejected after a statutory laboratory test.

The manager said the test is carried out on all liquid “used on the rolling stock, locomotives inclusive, to ensure that the right specifications are utilised”.

The statement assured that operations would normalise as the management was on top of the situation.

The Abuja-Kaduna train service resumed on December 5, 2022, after more than eight months of lull following a terrorist attack.

About 14 persons were killed and at least 63 abducted on March 28, 2022, at Katari in Kaduna State. The last batch of 23 captives were freed in October after the release of 7 in July.

Following the rising case of insecurity in the country, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is not left out as 2 students of the University got missing within a week.

Investigations revealed that the University was once a safe space for students but this has changed due to the alarming rate of missing students on the campus.

One of the students who preferred anonymity disclosed to this news medium stated that “since the beginning of the year 2023, UNN Students now go missing on weekly basis”.

“Last week Friday, a UNN Student whose name is Asogwa Adams was declared missing after he left to see someone inside the campus”.

“He was later found dead where his body was dumped at an uncompleted building at the outskirt of the campus”.

“Reports allege that he was murdered and his body dragged to the site”.

“Just Yesterday, another student, this time a lady has been declared missing”.

“Her name is Ejim Blessing Ijeoma, student of the department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Meanwhile, the school authority has kept mum over this worrisome incidences as effort to reach the Dean of Students Affairs proved abortive as at press time.

Following weeks of peaceful protest by the Esan Liberation Movement, the Federal Government has begun Rehabilitation of Benin -Ekpoma- Auchi Federal Roads

Recall that the protest which started and lasted for some weeks yielded the expected result judging from the interest shown by the relevant stakeholders in fixing the road, Esan Liberation Movement led by Hon. Prosper Iyere stated.

“We appreciate other groups and concerned stakeholders who are making moves and taking after the bold step of Esan Liberation Movement in support to our quest in fixing the bad roads. 2pac once said “I am not saying I can change the world, but I can spark the brains that will change the world”.

It is important to inform the public that after due consultation with the Edo state ministry of roads and bridges, Federal Ministry of works and critical stakeholders in Edo Central, the state government is in collaboration with the FG to expedite actions in fixing the road, massive surface gutter line will be constructed to move the water from the road.

Our people have a role to play as regards to areas that may be affected by channeling the gutter. Onojie of ekpoma is working with the HOLGA) in achieving this.

Therefore, Esan Liberation Movement have decided to RELAX the protest and give way to the contractor to do the needful.

However, we are monitoring to ensure that they keep to their promises and also working behind the scenes in the best way we can to put pressure on them not to fail in their promises.

The palliative measures will be sustained to ease vehicular movement for now.

There is power in togetherness and with this we shall achieve more. Our Land will be great Again.

Nigeria on Friday confirmed the outbreak of a new infection of the nose and throat, otherwise known as Diphtheria.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in a public health advisory issued Friday morning, confirmed that not less than 25 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kano State, North-West Nigeria.

The disease control centre, however, noted that it has responded to “reports of diphtheria cases in Lagos and Kano States and is monitoring the situation in Osun and Yobe States where cases are now being picked up”.

While the NCDC is yet to give data on the number of infections and deaths recorded in the country, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Aminu Tsanyawa, had on Thursday confirmed that the outbreak of Diphtheria has killed no fewer than 25 persons in the state.

However, NCDC said it’s now working with state health ministries and partners to enhance surveillance and response to the outbreak.

The NCDC explained that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, the skin of an individual.

It noted that people most at risk of contracting diphtheria are children and adults who have not received any or a single dose of the pentavalent vaccine (a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine), people who live in a crowded environment, in areas with poor sanitation and healthcare workers who are exposed to suspected or confirmed cases of diphtheria.

On transmission, NCDC added that the disease spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing and contact with contaminated clothing and objects.

The symptoms of diphtheria include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and neck swelling. In severe cases, NCDC said that a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat associated with difficulty breathing.

As regards the prevention of the disease, the NCDC urged parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with three doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the childhood immunisation schedule.

It added that healthcare workers should be vigilant and look out for symptoms of diphtheria, and individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria should isolate themselves and notify the local government area, state disease surveillance officer or the NCDC through its toll-free line (6232).