Residents in 18 of the 25 local government areas in Delta have been warned to prepare for potential flooding in the state.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, issued the warning during a one-day Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop in Asaba.
The workshop was organized by NEMA in collaboration with the Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for the targeted council areas.
According to Umar, the workshop’s objective, themed “Proper Waste Management and Flood Preparation,” was to raise awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal.
“It is also aimed at encouraging behavioral change towards sustainable waste management practices and flood mitigation strategies in the state,” she said.
While thanking the stakeholders, the Director-General urged them to support NEMA in its efforts to ensure proper waste management and to mitigate flood impacts in the state.
The Delta state government had earlier disclosed that it established flood committees and set up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps at strategic locations to mitigate the impact of flooding across the state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Ejiro Etacherure, commended NEMA for the timely workshop and urged participants to spread awareness about the impending flood to their communities so that residents can be adequately prepared.
On his part, the Director of SEMA, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, stated that the sensitisation has become necessary to enable the impacted communities to prepare for any eventualities caused by heavy rainfall.
According to him, the situation may persist until the government constructs dams to handle excess water from the overflowing rivers.
He also called for collaborative efforts between waste management agencies, residents, and Private Sector Participants (PSP) to ensure proper waste management in the state.
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