The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna Operations Office, has sensitised stakeholders to waste management to mitigate impact of floods in Niger state.
Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director -General of NEMA, said this at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop with the theme: Sustainable Waste Management and Flood Preparedness in Minna on Tuesday.
Umar, represented by Hajiya Zainab Sai’du, Head, NEMA Minna Operations Office, said the workshop was to sensitise stakeholders to the annual seasonal floor prediction by NiMET.
“NiMET prediction shows some local governments in Niger are within the high risk areas, only proper waste management can reduce the impact of floods.
“People need to know how to dispose of waste properly to avoid blockage of drainages during heavy downpour,” she said.
Umar called on government agencies responsible for enforcing laws against indiscriminate dumping to reactivate their activities to ensure people keep their environment clean.
She said with the increasing frequency and severity of floods due to climate change, proactive measures such as early warning systems and community engagement were essential.
She said the workshop was to share ideas and experiences and come up with strategies using the latest waste management technologies and best practices for flood risk reduction.
She urged stakeholders to engage actively by sharing valuable perspectives to develop integrated strategies for sustainable waste management and flood preparedness.
Earlier, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Niger, said waste management and flood preparedness was a collective responsibility.
“Waste management and flood preparedness is not a one man’s business and should not be left to NEMA alone, it is everyone’s business,” he said.
Also, Alhaji Suleiman Dada, District Head of Maikunkele, promised to sensitise various village and community heads to the need to caution their people against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was attended by officials of NSEMA, NESERA, fire service, and students. (NAN)
