The National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), has held a public awareness campaign on proper waste management in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.
Officials of NEMA were seen distributing information, education, and communication materials to people at the markets and to the communities, to mitigate the impacts of flooding in the state.
The Director of the Agency, Zubaida Umar, met with community leaders and stakeholders in Gusau, the state capital, to conscientize them on the need to sensitise people in their domains, to avoid blocking waterways, and to clean up drainages, to prevent flooding in their communities, to save lives and property.
She noted that the recent flood experienced in Zamfara, was caused by the dumping of refuse on waterways and gutters.
Zamfara State is one of the states in the country that the Nigerian Meteorology Agency, (NIMeT) had predicted would experience flooding, with eight local government areas being affected.
The National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), conducted an assessment in 10 local government areas that suffered flooding, with several households displaced.
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The incidents occurred due to blockages of waterways and poor attitude towards waste management.
It is against this backdrop that the Head of the NEMA Sokoto Office, Aliyu Shehu, led some of the staff to Zamfara State, to sensitise communities on proper waste management and flood preparedness, on behalf of the Director General, Zubaida Umar, harping on the need for people to shun the practice of dumping refuse or waste on waterways.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the of the Ministry of Environment, Garba Dauran, said that addressing environmental challenges is not the responsibility of the government alone, but of everyone.
He said all hands must be on deck, to ensure a flood-free Zamfara.
The Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian, Disaster Management and Social Development, Bashir Maradun, and the District Head of Gusau, Hassan Abdullahi, thanked NEMA for their concern, and promised to take the message to the people.
The NEMA officials had visited the Emir of Gusau, Ibrahim Bello, to seek his royal blessings.
They also conducted an assessment at Gada Baga Community in Gusau Local Government Area, which suffered flooding recently.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
