The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Muhammad Sidi, has said that the anticipated 2015 flood will not be as devastating as that of 2012, if Nigerians take adequate mitigatory and preventive measures.
Sidi, who spoke on Wednesday, said that NEMA had made adequate plans and activated formidable contingency measures to ensure that this year’s flood come under control.
Sidi, who was represented by Head Minna Operations Office, NEMA, Mr. Slaku Bijimi, spoke during a workshop on ‘Solid/liquid waste management in the mitigation and prevention of flood disaster,’ in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The NEMA DG also urged people to imbibe and exhibit risk and flood reduction behaviours.
He identified flooding as the most common and recurring incident with greater frequency in Nigeria.
He stated that poor management of solid and liquid waste was one of the most contributing hazards identified as a risk factor responsible for most urban flood in the country.
“The result of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the water channels, human habitation and businesses along the flood plains leads to blockages of the runoff from the heavy downpour causing overflow of the banks with devastating effect of flood disaster.
“Waste management in most cities of Nigeria has become a persistent problem, which has hitherto defied solution due to the attitude of citizens,” Sidi said.
According to him, flood like other disasters, should be everyone’s business.
He stated that communities need to be enlightened on the dangers of turning water channels and culverts into dump sites for their solid and liquid waste.
Sidi said, “Town planners, engineers and all relevant stakeholders should not allow any building along the flood plains, as such actions make our communities more vulnerable to flood and its consequences.
“We must take time to identify and eliminate the hazards in all the communities as part of the effective measures for preventing and preparing for floods and other disasters.”
The Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Emergency Management, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, said flood inducing habits needed prevention and mitigation measures to reduce their harmful impacts on the environment.
He added that it was necessary to build capacities of all stakeholders for flood disaster prevention and reduction.
According to him, it also requires preparedness to ensure sustainable rural and urban development.
He said that this will inevitably make compliance to environmental and town planning regulations a priority and thereby build a culture of environment-friendly society.
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