By EDDY OCHIGBO, Kaduna –
With the increasing vulnerability of the people to widespread hazards and disasters, particularly flooding, the Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA) and leading members of civil society organizations have called citizens to be part of on going campaign to mitigate flooding and other environmental disasters in the state.
Speaking at the two-day event to commemorate the International Day of Disaster Reduction (IDDRR) in Kaduna, the Chairman of KCTA, Alhaji Mohammad Hafiz Bayero, represented by the Assistant Director, Municipal Waste Management of the authority, Dr Haira’u Umar, reiterated that the state government has sunk millions of naira into dredging and clearing waterways throughout the state.
“I am delighted to see the impressive turn out of environmentalists, the media, community and youth leaders to this event. The world over the environment is key, because without a conducive environment the world would be in danger.
” KCTA, under Bayero, has been proactive in tackling floods in the state, by way of dredging River Kaduna and clearing water ways and channels.
“You all are witnesses to the fact that despite widespread floods across the country, there was virtually no case of serious flooding in flood-prone areas throughout the state. This is because KCTA’s preventive measures. We hope to make flooding a thing of the past in the state”, Umar stated.
He commended all stakeholders in environment for their fruitful contributions in the renewed campaign for disaster management and disaster risk reduction, assuring that all hands are currently on deck in the state, to strengthen governance systems on disaster risk reduction, particularly in disaster-prone areas.
A press statement signed by Mr Zinta Istifanus Akpoko of the Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE) stated that the theme of this year’s IDDRR is ‘Early Warning”, which focuses on “disaster risk reduction to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030”.
On her part, the coordinator of NCSE, Ms Gloria Kasang Bulus, identified community approach to multi-hazard early warning systems as key in the campaign to mitigate flooding and other disasters in the state. While dwelling on vulnerability and the difference between hazard and disaster, Bulus emphasized that disaster risk reduction, hinged on functional and early warning system, were germane because “it is better to prevent than to cure”.
Highlights of the event include, tree planting, sensitization visits to flood-prone communities and suburbs in Kaduna metropolis and novelty football match.
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