By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured Nigerians of its readiness to effectively tackle the 2020 floods predicted for the country.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja, the Director-General NEMA Mustapha Maihaja, stated
that it was important to bring key stakeholders in disaster management together to chart the way forward toward handling the predictions.
“Preparations and planning are key to any successful activity or project. Knowing our role in disaster management, we started our planning since October through November, last year.
“So, we have come out with a work plan that guides us on a step-by-step approach to possibilities.
“And with the seasonal rainfall prediction released, we will now engage all stakeholders for technical meetings.
“The report will be analysed vis a vis the possibilities as far as disaster management is concerned and at the end, we will come out with a disaster management implications and socioeconomic consequences should the flood occur,” he said.
He said that the organisation would be airing sensitisation campaigns through radio jingles and television programmes.
He maintained that the organisation had also perfected plans on sensitising flood-prone communities through video clips.
“We intend to bring a new approach to sensitising people as we have made plans to go directly to these flood-prone communities with video clips to show them the dangers of staying in these areas in case flood occurs.
“That will prepare them so that when there is need for evacuation, they will listen to us,” he said.
