The Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, who is in charge of Adamawa and Taraba states, Abbani Garki, has urged residents of the states in the North-East to avoid flood-prone areas.
He also enjoined them to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially in drainage channels to reduce incidents of flooding.
Garki said this at a five-day retreat with the theme: ‘Re-engineering the agency for effective & proactive disaster management’, which was organised for staff of the agency.
He said, “As an operation, we have been sensitising members of the public to ways to prevent the flooding. We expect that residents will desist from disposing of refuse in waterways, avoid flood-prone areas and stop waiting for the government to dredge their water channels.
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“You should also monitor the level of water and leave when necessary so that you won’t be caught unawares; listen and comply with early warnings.
“This retreat, as directed by the DG, is geared towards bringing the staff members of the agency together to share ideas and experiences, and harness strategies with a view to moving the agency forward.”
In a paper on the general principles of disaster management in Nigeria, Mr Uba Ayuba of the Red Cross Society, said, “Hazard is anything that results in adverse damage. It causes a threat to life and property. You should look forward, as volunteers, to the value of work that is in you and not the organisation that employs you.”
He advised all stakeholders across agencies to work with together to mitigate the effects of natural and not so natural disasters in order to make the nation safer. [PUNCH]
