Kaduna, Sokoto Residents Asked To Vacate Flood Prone Areas
Olorunfemi Ojo
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Nigeria has asked residents living in flood prone areas and near river banks in some parts of Kaduna, Sokoto, Jigawa to vacate their residences in order to avoid being affected by this year flooding.
Coordinator of NEMA for the North West Zone Operations Office, Musa Ilallah, gave the advice during a one-day sensitisation workshop held in Kaduna on Thursday, focusing on ‘Comprehensive Disaster Management: Preparedness and Coordination for Response to Emergencies’.
He said the aim of the workshop was to enhance the capability of stakeholders for disaster mitigation, preparedness and response across
all jurisdictions, sectors and disciplines.
The workshop also brought to the fore, the need for stakeholders
across the zone to be aware of activities needed to be undertaken
prior to disasters.
Mr Ilallah appealed to State governments to provide alternative
housing for those who might be affected to avert crises.
He said ignorance of flood risks had encouraged people to live in flood
plains, hence their resolve to embark on sensitisation programmes across the probable flood prone areas in the zone.
All the agencies usually involved in rescue and emergency operations –
Civil Defence, Red Cross, Road Safety, Fire Service – and other
stakeholders attended the workshop.
Strengthening the synergy and collaboration between these agencies on how to handle emergency situations was also the focus of the workshop.
The Guest Speaker at the workshop and a lecturer with Kaduna Polytechnic, Ishaq Quaranmata, asked the media to help in sensitising the people on the dangers of flood.
“Mitigation, preparedness and effective response to multi hazard
emergencies require vigilance, requisite skill and understanding of
disaster management among all stakeholders”.