Gov Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, has urged local government authorities to sensitise residents on the dangers of floods and the importance of adhering to early warning responses as part of a long-term strategy.
Buni said 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).
He also urged community leaders to take precautionary measures to clear blocked drainages sand and embankments to avert flood.
Buni, represented by Baba Malam-Wali, said the aim of the workshop was to enhance the state’s readiness and response to potential flooding based on NiMet 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 were washed away, and roads were cut off, to the extent of preventing the agency from delivering aid to some affected victims.
According to him based on the previous experiences, Buni directed the agency to develop a blueprint to avoid the same experience.
The ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed commended SEMA for organizing the workshop, describing it as timely event.
He also highlighted some of the ACReSAL multiple projects toward reducing the effects of climate change in the state.
(NAN)
