Flood Prevention : Communities Urged To Take Proactive Measures Against Disasters.

Residents of flood-prone communities in Niger State have been called upon to adopt preventive measures against flooding through improved environmental sanitation, protection of drainage channels and adherence to early warning information, as experts insist that most flood disasters can be prevented through collective action.

 This is contained in a Press statement issued by the Information Officer Niger State Ministry of Information Aisha Nauzo and made available to Journalists on Friday  in Minna .

The statement added that the appeal was made during a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme on flood prevention and control, where participants highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies and local communities to reduce the devastating effects of flooding on lives, property and livelihoods.

Welcoming guests at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of the North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL), Engr. U.E. Chioke, said, “the sensitisation programme was organised to enlighten residents, particularly those living around the Shiroro axis, on the importance of environmental responsibility in mitigating flood disasters”.

According to him, flooding around the Shiroro Hydro Power Station has often been linked to both natural occurrences and human activities, making it imperative for communities to understand the causes and adopt preventive measures.

Engr. Chioke urged participants to disseminate the knowledge gained during the programme within their communities, noting that public awareness remains one of the most effective tools for reducing the impact of flooding.

Also in his remarks,the Niger State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Obed Nuhu Nana, represented by the Director of Information in the ministry, Malam  Yunusa Saidu Ibrahim, called for professional management of information dissemination to prevent disinformation and misinformation in the prevention and management of flood disasters.

He added that urban flooding is usually preventable through early warning and adequate information.

Other speakers at the programme, including the Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and a Director in the Niger State Ministry of Environment, stressed the need for community preparedness, regular environmental sanitation, proper waste disposal, protection of drainage channels and sensitisation in local languages.

They however I warned that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and noted that many flood incidents are worsened by human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse and construction on waterways.