Residents in 18 of Delta State’s 25 local government areas have been warned to brace for potential flooding.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, issued this alert during a one-day Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop in Asaba.
The workshop, organised by NEMA in collaboration with the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), aimed to address waste management and flood preparation.
The theme, “Proper Waste Management and Flood Preparation,” underscored the need for proper waste disposal practices to mitigate flood risks.
Umar emphasized the workshop’s goal of raising awareness about sustainable waste management and flood mitigation strategies.
She urged stakeholders to support NEMA’s efforts in promoting proper waste management and reducing flood impacts.
The Delta State government had previously established flood committees and set up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at strategic locations to manage flooding impacts across the state.
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Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Ejiro Etacherure, commended NEMA for the timely workshop and encouraged participants to spread awareness about the impending flood to their communities for adequate preparation.
Mr. Karo Ovemeso, Director of SEMA, highlighted the necessity of the sensitisation to prepare communities for heavy rainfall. He suggested that the situation may persist until the government constructs dams to handle excess water from overflowing rivers.
Ovemeso also called for collaborative efforts between waste management agencies, residents, and Private Sector Participants (PSP) to ensure proper waste management in the state.