From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
National Emergency Management Agency yesterday counseled Nigerians on the importance of enforcing building and environmental laws in the country.
Speaking at a workshop on Better Implemented and Enforced Laws for safer Cities in Kaduna organized by NEMA North-West Zone, the Zonal Coordinator, Musa Ilallah said the objectives were to enhance the knowledge of Nigerians to be proactive towards making cities safe.
He explained that abuses and distortions of building and town planning regulations, farming on water ways, erecting toxic and dangerous structures or carrying out dangerous activities in proximity to where humans live aggravate the impacts of disasters.
“You will agree with me that cases of building collapses, flooding in our towns, cities and farmlands and illegal mining among others are some of the consequences arising from lack of enforcement of our building and planning laws in the country.
” While town planning laws ensure that people do not live in high risk areas or face seasonal threats such as food, building codes on the other hand ensure that appropriate building standards are adhered to in order to reduce the impact of hazards,” he said.
According to him, such hazards include fires, floods and high winds, saying environmental management laws prevent creation of hazards like pollution.
Malam Ilallah, further advised that the laws need to be fully enforced for the good of all.
He therefore called on concerned professionals, community and religious leaders to contribute their quota towards ensuring better implemented and enforced laws for safer cities and towns.
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