SEMA tasks LGs in Kebbi to brace up for flooding
The Kebbi state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has alerted chairmen of 11 local governments that are flood-prone in the state to brace up for possible disaster in their areas.
Executive Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Sani Dododo, gave the warning at a meeting with the council chairmen in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
The 11 local government areas likely to be affected are Birnin Kebbi, Ngaski, Yauri, Koko/Besse, Argungu, Dandi, Bagudo, Bunza, Augie, Shanga and Zuru.
Dododo said that against the 2020 seasonal rainfall prediction by the the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), “it is necessary to caution the LGAs to brace up against the possibilities of destructive due to windstorm and heavy rainfall this year.’’
He recalled that NIMET predicted that heavy rainfall might result in flooding and other social disequilibrium in some parts of the state and the country.
“The purpose of the meeting is to intimate the local government chairmen about the implication of the rainfall pattern this year on the annual flood outlook with regards to Kebbi state.
“There is the need for the local government areas and state, especially SEMA to put all the necessary mitigating measures in place before the onset of the flood season,’’ he said.
Dododo also urged the chairmen to come up with precautionary measures, like tree planting to reduce the erosion that could lead to flooding.
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“As the state government is planning to plant over one million trees, you should also come up with policies that will ensure the compulsory planting of, at least, three trees in the frontage of every household, especially in the disaster-prone areas windstorm,’’ he said.
He urged the chairmen to intensify efforts towards ensuring communication flow between their communities and the state government for effective emergency management.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Muhammad-Shalla, enjoined the chairmen to begin stockpiling relief materials for unforeseen disaster.
Muhammad-Shalla said that the disasters do not give notice before they struck and advised them to ensure the judicious distribution of the relief materials to victims whenever the disaster occurs.
