Following a heavy downpour on Saturday, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency has alerted the public of imminent flood hence the need for all hands to be on deck to avoid what it calls inconsequential loss of lives
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Abubakar Hassan gave the warning in a statement issued after an assessment tour of some flood prone areas of Kaduna metropolis
In the statement, The Executive Executive said, “Following the downpour of Yesterday 8th May 2021, the Executive Secretary called for an emergency meeting which was resolved to visit the flood prone areas within the State Metropolis. The State Technical Working Group otherwise known as Disaster Mitigation and Management Platform were the major stakeholders that took part in today’s exercise. Members were drawn from NEMA, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Education, Media and representatives of the Civil Society as well as the pioneer sponsors of the just concluded project of Early warning for Early Response, ie the Christian Aid.
“Areas visited include: Kigo Road, Barnawa, Romi, Karatudu, Gonin Gora and Nassarawa Kakuri. Evidence of flooding has been established from the Assessment done. Factors militating against smooth flow of water from the water ways include indiscriminate dumping of refuse and debris along the waterways, uncleared vegetation and construction as a result of the Urban Renewal Project going on in the State.
“Open defication has been a major issue in all the areas visited. And this has a health implication to the communities such as Cholera, Diarrhoea, Malaria from Mosquitoes.
“The objective of the exercise is to establish facts and re-echoe awareness and sensitization to the members of the public and intimate them of the fact that taking ownership of their immediate environment by keeping it clean and safe is the responsibility of not only the Government alone but also theirs.
“The recent prediction is imminent of the fact that likelihood of flood is inevitable. Therefore all hands must be on deck to avoid inconsequential loss of lives and properties as well as negative impact on the environment.
“Farmers are also advised to heed to warnings and advice from expert on the right time to farm to avoid the impact on Food Security. The government has shown concern over the non-challant attitude of the public and pledged to decisively deal with defaulters particularly on indiscriminate disposal of refuse”, the statement concludes.
