NEMA tasks stakeholders on flood

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on stakeholders in disaster management in Kogi state to intensify efforts to sensitise the people and create awareness on the effects of flood and other related disasters.
Coordinator of NEMA Abuja (Operation Office), Mr Ishaya Isah Chinoko, made the call yesterday in Lokoja during a one-day workshop organised by the agency to sensitise the people on 2014 disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation.

Chonoko, who described flood risk awareness as the cornerstone of non-structural flood risk management, said all action to minimise the impact of flood hinged upon the awareness created by stakeholders and the communities at risk.
He said the aim of the workshop was to awake the state government, communities that are prone to flood and other stakeholders on the need to prepare adequately to avert the likely re-occurrence of flood that has adverse effect on the people.

He said: “The 2012 flood disaster was unprecedented in the history of the country, Kogi state was one of the states badly affected by flood, nine local government council were affected in the state, lives were lost, number of persons injured, farmland destroyed.”
Chonoko, who pointed out that ignorance of flood risk encouraged occupation of flood plains and abuse of town planning regulations, charged all stakeholders in disaster management to be proactive in handling the flood menace should it happen.

Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Idris Wada on emergency management, AVM Gabriel Abdul (rtd), disclosed that as part of measure to mitigate the impact of the flood disaster, the state government has embarked on creating public awareness, construction of drainages, developing a comprehensive and integrated urban planning, noting that the state had collaborated with disaster management units and international agencies to tackle the effect of flood.

Abdul, who commended the effort of NEMA for their proactive measures and doggedness during 2012 flood mishap in the state, said the workshop came at a time the state government was making a concerted effort to avert flooding in the state.