Residents of the two LGAs of Itas/Gadau and Toro in Bauchi State have been reminded that the areas are listed among the most flood-prone and high-risk areas in the country.
The disclosure was made by Mrs Ummunah Ahmed, Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Gombe Zonal Office, during a one-day sensitization programme organised for environmental stakeholders on flood prevention and waste management in Bauchi State.
She also disclosed that seven other LGAs in the state: Bauchi, Jama’are, Ganjuwa, Shira, Zaki, Warji, and Katagum, were listed as moderate-risk areas.
Speaking during the programme on Tuesday, Ummunah Ahmed said that the sensitization became necessary after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s prediction of possible flooding in some states and local government areas across the country.
She explained that the objectives of the programme were to raise awareness about the importance of proper waste management practices in communities and educate the public on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal on the environment and public health.
She added that the programme was to also promote proactive measures for flood preparedness and resilience in communities and to encourage behavioural change towards sustainable waste management practices and flood mitigation strategies.
According to her, “improper waste disposal has severe and far-reaching consequences on our environment, health, and climate, hence the reason why experts on environmental issues have been invited to do justice to the given topic.”
She added, “As you are aware that flooding is always associated with improper waste management, we are enlightening you and creating awareness among you so as to avoid flooding.”
“If you look at our drainages and waterways, you will find out that they are all filled up with waste, so if we can clean and clear up our drainages and dispose of our waste properly, this is a good measure to avoid flooding,” she added.
“I therefore urge you all to listen to expert presentations and advice and extend the same message to the grassroots,” she said.
She also urged people living in flood-prone areas to move to safer grounds, adding that when there is flooding, people living in sloppy areas will be affected first.
Also, Mr. Haruna Suleiman, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Health, lauded NEMA for organising the programme, adding that the danger associated with improper waste disposal could not be overemphasised.
According to him, “We in the Ministry of Health and Primary Healthcare already have a structure, which is risk communication and community engagement, where communities are engaged and sensitised on the importance of proper waste management and the effect of improper waste management on our health.”
Haruna Suleiman added that “we have so many structures in the communities that will help us in communicating this message in order to consider proper waste management as a vital tool in the prevention and control of diseases and flooding.”
He also stated that “I would like to advise other stakeholders to have structures at the community level because community engagement is very critical in whatever you want people to do.”
“Without a structure in the community where the community members are part of the implementing body, then there will be problems, but you can easily achieve whatever you want to achieve if the community members are participating in your activities,” he said.
Some of the stakeholders in the programme included members of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency, the Bauchi State Environmental Management Agency, and the Ministry of Health and Environment.
Others included members of both the state and federal fire service, the Nigerian Army, the police, traditional and religious leaders, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the and the National Orientation Agency, among others.
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