Kano state government has charged residents to clear their water ways and maintain safety at all times to mitigate flooding and other environmental hazards.
The Executive Secretary Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Saleh Aliyu Jili made the call during an interview with newsmen in Kano to commemorate international day for disaster risk reduction.
According to him ,the day was set aside to acknowledge the progress being made toward preventing and reducing disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, economies and basic infrastructure in line with international agreement for reducing global disaster risk and losses.
He maintained that, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 13 October as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction.
The executive secretary highlighted that, the federal government had made all necessary arrangements to reduce disasters especially after NIMET predicted windstorm and heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding in some parts of the country.
Dr. Saleh Jili explained that ,Kano state was not left behind, as it was one of the states predicted to experience flooding, saying that all the necessary precautions were taken before rainy season which reduced environmental hazards to the barest minimum compared to other states.
“Most of the flooding and collapsed buildings experienced was due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockage of water ways”
He stressed that, SEMA had organized a workshop for stakeholders such as traditional rulers, faith based organizations, voluntary organizations and CBOs on ways of curtailing environmental hazards.
The executive secretary noted that SEMA has been working assidously in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency management (NEMA), state disaster management committee, local emergency management committees across the forty four local government areas, through public education and enlightenment campaigns to minimize disaster occurence.
He charged the general public, to maintain safety at all times, and desist from any act capable of exposing them to disasters as the situation could lead to economic recession, loss of lives, properties and commended the media for their tireless and relentless efforts in ensuring that members of the public are adequately informed.
Dr. Saleh Aliyu Jili, reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to the provision of infrastructures, security, free and compulsory education, quality healthcare delivery and mapping out policies and programs aimed at upgrading the lives of citizens.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 focuses attention on “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030,”
KHADIJAH ALIYU