Yobe state governor, Mai Mala Buni, has urged local government authorities in the state to sensitise residents on the dangers of floods and the importance of adhering to early warning responses in a sustainable manner.
The governor disclosed this at a workshop on Flood Disaster Preparedness, organised by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), with funding from the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).
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He also urged community leaders to take precautionary measures to clear blocked drainages and embankments to avert flood.
Buni, represented by Baba Malam-Wali, said the workshop was to enhance the state’s readiness and response to potential flooding based on NIMET’s predictions.
Also, Dr Mohammed Goje, the Executive Secretary SEMA, explained that the flooding experience in 2022 had tested the agency’s capacity in terms of preparedness, mitigation, and response.
He stated that many lives were lost, shelters and farmlands washed away, and roads cut off, limiting the agency in delivering aid to some affected victims.
He said following previous experiences, Buni had directed the agency to develop a blueprint to prevent a reoccurrence.
The ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed, commended SEMA for organising the workshop, describing it as timely.
He also highlighted some of the ACReSAL multiple projects toward reducing the effects of climate change in the state. (NAN)
