Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, on Wednesday, at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, flagged off a sensitisation programme on downscaling of early warning strategies to the grassroot levels on mitigation of the impact of flood organised by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.
The Governor, who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, stated that the essence of the programme was to build the resilience of citizens, and disseminate information to all relevant Stakeholders on the early actions that should be taken to mitigate impacts of flood incidents.
The Governor revealed that the programme was very important as it was geared towards the protection of the environment, and lauded the Director General, NEMA, Zabaida Umar, for choosing Abia as one of the states in the federation for the sensitization programme.
Gov Otti said that even though the predictions by the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency on 2024 annual flood outlook and seasonal rainfall had indicated that 11 out of the 17 local government areas in the state would be affected by flood, there was the need to include all the local government areas for the programme.
He urged all to take the exercise very seriously to avert flood disaster.
In his welcome address, the Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, represented by the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Sunny Jackson called on all to be involved in the disaster management, adding that the Governor, Dr Alex Otti, through the reconstruction and construction of drainages has been helping to avert flood disaster in the State.
In his remarks, the
Director General, NEMA, Mrs. Zabaida Umar, represented by the Director, Department of Human Resources Management, Dr. Ejike Martins, commended Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti for steps and efforts the state government has taken to reduce risk imposed by flood, adding that the sensitisation programme was holding simultaneously in 24 states of the federation.
The event which featured presentation on preparedness and downscaling messages on the 2024 flood forecast by Assistant Director, General, Services, NEMA Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Bitrus Samuel and question and answer session, attracted the presence of Permanent Secretaries, Traditional Rulers, representative of the Federal Road Safety Corp s, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Red Cross, among others.
Obioma Chidinma
Deputy Director of information
Ministry of Environment
