By Flowerbudnews
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has tasked residents within communities in Ebonyi council areas on active participation in flood control as “disaster management is everybody’s business”.
The acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA South-East, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu, gave the task on Thursday during a Sensitization on Waste Management/Flood Preparedness in Onu-Ebonyi Community, headquarters of Ikwo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi.
The sensitisation was organised by NEMA in collaboration with Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (EBSEMA).
Echeazu noted that devastating flood disasters are due to river overflow, heavy downpours, building on flood plains, indiscriminate dumping of refuse by some residents and silted waterways due to refuse dump and lack of desilting of drains/waterways.
She said that the sensitisation was being carried out by NEMA officials in communities in four LGAs, which are Abakaliki, Afikpo North, Ikwo and Izzi, from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16.
The acting zonal coordinator said that the four council areas are considered as high and moderate flood prone areas in Ebonyi.
She said that the programme was divided in two phases – the outdoor practical demonstration involving carting away refuse from major drainages and the current indoor programme of disaster management talks, lectures and question/answer sessions -.
“The knowledge of flood preparedness and proper waste management cannot be overemphasised hence the need for downscaling to the grassroot this important sensitisation.
“The 2024 Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) predictions show that one LGA (Ikwo) and three LGAs (Izzi, Abakaliki and Afikpo North) are rated as high and moderate flood prone areas respectively.
“Therefore the need to start early preparedness plans to prevent or mitigate losses,” she said.
The acting zonal coordinator commended the local government chairman for sustaining the council’s Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC).
She advised for increased membership of LEMC and its adequate funding to enable the committee work proactively as well as carry out effective and efficient disaster management planning and activities.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of EBSEMA, Mr Clement Ovuoba, commended the Ikwo council area residents for their large turnout for the sensitization programme.
Ovuoba further emphasised on the gains of proactive approach in disaster management which focused on prevention, mitigation and preparation.
The event featured a presentation on “Flood Preparedness and Proper Waste Management”, which was delivered by NEMA team member, Mr Nnanyelugo Ezeani, in Igbo language.
Responding, the Chairman of Ikwo LGA, Chief Sunday Nwankwo, represented by Mrs Itumo Chinasa, appreciated the joint team of NEMA/EBSEMA for coming to enrich their people with the knowledge of flood preparedness and proper waste management.
Nwankwo called on the participants to utilise the opportunity to learn ways of making their various communities safer.
A community leader in Onu-Ebonyi community, Chief Stephen Nwukwu, thanked NEMA/EBSEMA for the sensitisation, assuring that the people would take the flood mitigation massage to every village and household in the community and by extension the council area.
Highlights of the event were interactive session, distribution of flyers on Proper Waste Management/Flood Preparedness tips in both English/Igbo language with the inclusion of emergency numbers of relevant stakeholders to participants.
The sensitisation was attended by traditional rulers, local government council members, community leaders/members, women and youth groups, the Police and Department of State Security (DSS) among others.
It would be recalled that NEMA and EBSEMA had embarked on clearing and cleaning up major drainages and cutting down overgrown weeds in the council area on Wednesday. (Flowerbudnews)
