Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has announced that his administration is implementing comprehensive measures to mitigate the impact of potential flood disasters across the state.
Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting organized by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Umuahia, Otti, represented by Environment Commissioner Philemon Ogbonna, outlined several ongoing initiatives aimed at flood prevention and control.
Proactive Infrastructure Development
"The building of roads, construction of drainages, opening up of blocked gutters, and erosion control are some of the measures being deployed to prevent flood disasters in Abia," the governor stated.
Otti emphasized the critical importance of early warning systems, urging participants to disseminate flood-related information down to community levels. This approach, he noted, would be vital in building citizens' resilience against potential disasters.
The governor highlighted that the stakeholders' meeting was particularly timely, following recent flood disaster predictions issued by relevant federal government agencies.
Federal Support and Coordination
The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, represented by Director Walter Brandon, revealed that NEMA has developed specialized disaster mitigation strategies. These include capacity building programs for local emergency responders and the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems.
SEMA Executive Secretary Sunny Jackson, in his welcome address, explained that the meeting would help prepare actionable plans to reduce the impacts of upcoming flood disasters as predicted by meteorological authorities.
The collaborative approach between state and federal agencies demonstrates a coordinated effort to protect Abia residents from potential flood-related emergencies during the upcoming rainy season.
Environmental experts have previously warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding events across Nigeria, making such preventive measures increasingly important for vulnerable states.
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