The National Emergency Management Agency has taken its campaign on proper waste management to rural dwellers in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State as part of measures to mitigate impact of flooding during the rainy season.
Mrs Ummunah Ahmad, the Head of Operations, NEMA , Gombe State office who led the campaign team to Kwami community said the exercise was to raise public awareness about proper waste management and its effect on flooding.
Ahmad said the campaign was imperative as part of effort to mitigate the impacts of flood disaster through proactive measures as well as reminding communities of their roles in disaster prevention and mitigation.
She told residents of Kwami that the devastating impacts of flood over the years, especially that of 2012, should served as a wake-up call to all stakeholders, hence the reason NEMA was collaborating with stakeholders to manage disaster risks and associated hazards.
According to her, the campaign on flooding is an initiative to save lives and livelihoods during the rainy season.
She said that there was a connection between improper waste disposal and flooding, hence the need for communities to avoid dumping waste indiscriminately in drains.
According to her, flooding will be minimised if residents take seriously proper waste management and to comply with all measures that will ensure a sustainable environment.
She said that her team was in Kwami because it is amongst the five LGAs in Gombe State that are predicted to be under the moderate flood risk areas, listing others to include Dukku, Yamaltu/Deba, Gombe and Funakaye.
“Our message is simple, they should not build houses along waterways or flood prone areas, evacuate from flood prone areas immediately to safer ground, clear drainages and waterways, and adhere to early warning alerts.
“NEMA is concerned about saving lives and property and that is why we are engaging all stakeholders to remind them of their roles as well as call for proactive measures,” she said.
Ahmad commended the Gombe State government for commencing desilting of storm drains as well as building waste collection centres in the state, adding that such was key to minimising impact of flooding in the state.
On his part, Mr Muhammad Khalid, the Special Assistant, Technical to the Executive Secretary of Gombe State Environmental Protection Agency (GOSEPA), Mr Auwalu Baba-Jada urged residents to imbibe the culture of proper waste disposal.
Khalid advised residents to always be vigilant and not encourage actions that could lead to flooding in their communities.
Our correspondent also reports that NEMA had earlier in the day, organised a training for key stakeholders tagged “Waste Segregation, Recycling and Composting Techniques, Proper Waste Management and Flood Preparedness to selected communities in Gombe State.”
The event which was held at Prof. Isa Ali-Pantami ICT Park, Gombe Statr University had participants such as community leaders, NESREA, SEMA, State Fire Service and Federal Firemen, officials of Ministry of Health, Environment, the Police, NSCDC and the media.
