Nigeria's disaster agency sensitizes riverine areas on flood

Usman A. Bello in AllAfrica.com via the Daily Trust (Nigeria): The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sensitized flood vulnerable communities in Kogi State on flood risks to reduce impact when it occur.

Speaking at the one day sensitization workshop, Coordinator of NEMA Abuja operating office, Ishaya Isah Chonoko said the need for sustained awareness across diverse interest groups in vulnerable communities informed the sensitization.

Chonoko who was represented by Slaku Lugard said the vulnerable communities needed to be aware of the risks they face and the steps they can take to reduce the risks.

Chonoko said the agency realized that when flooding occur, the affected people often use schools as camps which necessitated the provision of tents by NEMA for those that would be displaced especially Ibaji local government.

According to him, all actions to minimize the impact of flood hingeed on awareness by stakeholders and communities while ignorance of it encourages occupation of flood plain and abuse of town planning as well as failure to heed the warning of by relevant agencies to evacuate, thereby endangering lives...