Environment
IN response to the mitigating effects of anticipated flooding in Anambra State, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, paid an advocacy visit to the Secretary to Anambra State Government, SSG.
The team was led by an Assistant Director, NEMA, Major James Eze, who stressed that the visit was to urge the Anambra State Government to take proactive measures toward the impending flood disaster in the state.
Eze stressed that the annual flood outlook report predicted that “Anambra State is among the states in the country to experience flooding this year’’.
He urged the state to activate the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, would-be Local Government Authorities and their Stakeholders, who would commence immediate public enlightenment campaign on vulnerable areas, fumigate, clear and set up Holding Centres to await any occurrence.
The SSG, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, on behalf of the State Government, expressed gratitude to the visiting team and other stakeholders present.
He emphasised that the state annually prepared for flooding and that SEMA had already taken the sensitisation matter to flood-prone communities.
Prof Chukwulobelu pleaded with NEMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to consider early intervention by sending food and non food items to the state before the expected flood disaster occurred as it would help the state in its preparations.
He also said that the state created a new agency known as “Clearing and Deforestation Agency’’ to deal with distilling of the waters and ensuring free flow of the waterways.
The team also visited the Disaster Response Unit, Nigerian Army, Onitsha.
The Army Commander, Col. Aim Lapai, welcomed the team, saying that the army as part of emergency stakeholders had collaborated with SEMA during flood disasters, stressing, “the army is ready to offer assistance this year if any disaster occurs as predicted by NEMA’’.
Dignitaries present during the visit included the Executive Secretary SEMA, Paul Odenigbo, Executive Director SEMA, C Y Agupugo and Matthew Paul from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Vice-President, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Peter Kachi, Deputy Commandant FRSC, Kelvin Odoh.
– Sept. 25, 2020 @ 15:35 GMT |
Tags: discusses anticipated 2020 flooding NEMA visits SSG
