Gboyega Lesi, the CEO of Leadway Assurance Company Limited, has called on businesses, individuals, and communities to take preventative steps in reaction to the severe floods that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has predicted. According to a report from NEMA that was given in July at a symposium in Abuja, there will be more flooding in 33 states between August and October. The organization has demanded that precautions be taken right away. Lesi reiterated these alerts, emphasizing the serious danger that flooding presents to communities in Nigeria, as reported by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMet).
He also brought up the flood disaster of 2022, which the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimated resulted in direct economic damages of almost $9.12 billion, affecting homes, businesses, structures, and public Infrastructure in addition to upsetting the agricultural and productive sectors. Leadway Assurance is dedicated to providing specialized Insurance plans that handle flood-related risks in order to assist Nigerians in recovering from such calamities. Lesi stressed that their rules are all-inclusive and adaptable, made to specifically address the requirements of people and companies impacted by flooding.
Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, and Kogi are among the most vulnerable states.
To reduce risks and guarantee a prompt recovery, the organization is ready to offer advice and assistance. As the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) prepares for catastrophic floods, Gboyega Lesi, the Chief Executive Officer of Leadway Assurance Company Limited, has urged businesses, individuals, and communities to take prompt, proactive action. 33 states in Nigeria are predicted to experience flooding from August through October, according to NEMA’s July report, which was given during a meeting in Abuja.
Given the devastating floods in 2022—which, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), affected over 4.4 million people, displaced over 2.5 million, and claimed over 600 lives—this warning is especially concerning. Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, and Kogi are among the most vulnerable states, according to the research, where exceptionally significant floods are predicted. According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the situation in these areas will probably get worse when the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon releases water.
Government intervention is essential in creating robust infrastructure.
Residents of the impacted areas recounted their experiences after the flood disaster in 2022. For example, a home owner in the flooded town of Lokoja, Kogi State, bemoaned, “We lost everything we had. Even our uppermost stories were not immune to the high water level. Our lives have never been the same since we were forced to relocate to temporary camps.” These first-hand stories highlight the significant effects that flooding has on local communities in addition to the startling $9.12 billion in direct economic losses that NBS has disclosed.
Lesi stressed that the government and community organizations, in addition to private citizens and commercial enterprises, must act quickly. He emphasized that while insurance offers a safety net, government intervention is essential in creating robust infrastructure. It has been recommended that the federal and state governments accelerate ongoing infrastructure projects, including Dredging large rivers like the Niger and Benue to minimize flooding and fortifying riverbanks and building dams. Local governments are also assuming responsibility for the situation. Local communities have started building temporary barriers and cleaning drainage channels in states like Bayelsa and Delta in order to stop water from building up.
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Nonprofit organizations are also actively involved in educating the public and offering resources to assist populations that are at risk of flooding in the near future. Lesi suggests that in order to reduce the dangers, people and businesses can take a number of preventative measures, such as raising expensive objects, assembling a flood emergency kit, getting flood insurance, being informed, and making an evacuation plan. Lesi reassured the people of Nigeria that Leadway Assurance is dedicated to helping them through these difficult times and provides comprehensive insurance plans that are made to address the unique risks connected to flooding. The committed staff of the organization is prepared to offer advice, making sure that people and companies may recover from flood-related damages as soon as possible.