The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called on the Abia State Government, other South-East state governments, federal agencies, local councils, traditional institutions and citizens to intensify flood preparedness and climate resilience efforts following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) forecast of increased rainfall and thunderstorms across parts of Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Umuahia on Thursday, the environmental advocacy organisation said the weather forecast should be treated as an early warning requiring coordinated action to reduce the growing risks of flooding, rather than as a routine weather advisory.
FENRAD expressed concern that many communities in Abia State and across the South-East remain highly vulnerable to flooding due to blocked drainage systems, poor waste management, unregulated urban development, inadequate public awareness and insufficient investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.
According to the organisation, recurring flood disasters are increasingly driven by the combined effects of climate change and environmental mismanagement.
“Flood disasters are no longer isolated incidents. They are becoming a recurring consequence of climate change and environmental mismanagement. Every warning issued by NiMet must be treated as a call to action,” the organisation said.
FENRAD urged governments at all levels to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive prevention, preparedness and community resilience, stressing that lives and property could be better protected through early interventions.
The organisation called on the Abia State Government and other South-East states to activate emergency preparedness and flood response mechanisms in identified flood-prone communities ahead of the peak rainfall period.
It also recommended intensified public awareness campaigns through radio, television, social media, schools, markets, churches, town hall meetings and traditional institutions to educate residents on flood risks and appropriate safety measures.
FENRAD further advocated stronger collaboration among NiMet, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments and community-based organisations to ensure the timely dissemination of weather forecasts and early warning information.
The group also urged authorities to immediately clear blocked drainage channels, waterways, culverts and erosion sites, particularly in flood-prone urban centres including Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia and Arochukwu.
In addition, it called for stricter enforcement of environmental sanitation laws and urban planning regulations to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and prevent construction on natural waterways and floodplains.
FENRAD emphasised the need for greater investment in climate-smart infrastructure, erosion control projects, watershed restoration, afforestation and other nature-based solutions aimed at reducing flood risks and improving ecosystem resilience.
It also recommended the establishment and strengthening of community-based disaster risk management committees capable of coordinating preparedness, emergency response, evacuation and post-disaster recovery efforts.
The organisation stressed that sustained environmental education remains critical to building resilient communities and encouraged residents to keep drainage channels free of refuse, report blocked waterways to relevant authorities and comply with official weather advisories during periods of heavy rainfall.
FENRAD further appealed to development partners, the private sector, academic institutions, youth groups and community associations to support climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and grassroots resilience initiatives.
Describing climate change as an immediate challenge rather than a future threat, the organisation said building resilient communities requires coordinated action, forward-looking policies, sustained investment and active citizen participation.
FENRAD reaffirmed its commitment to advancing environmental justice, promoting climate action, strengthening community resilience and supporting policies that safeguard both people and ecosystems across Abia State, the South-East and Nigeria.
