Awareness Campaign Urged By Kogi Deputy Governor Amidst Annual Flooding

Awareness Campaign Urged By Kogi Deputy Governor Amidst Annual Flooding....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Deputy Governor Joel Oyibo Salifu of Kogi State, also serving as chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has urged stakeholders involved in flood disaster management to increase their efforts in sensitizing and mitigating the anticipated flood, as predicted by Nigeria’s Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on emergency management and flood preparedness organized by SEMA in collaboration with NEMA in Lokoja, Salifu highlighted the severe threat of perennial flooding to nine local government areas in Kogi State. He emphasized the need for stakeholders to unite and develop proactive strategies to mitigate flood disasters.

“We are committed to enhancing early warning systems to educate and inform the people, especially those residing in riverine areas,” Salifu emphasized.

Acknowledging that government efforts alone are insufficient to tackle flood challenges in Kogi State, the Deputy Governor called on stakeholders to support governmental initiatives aimed at mitigating flood impacts.

Earlier, SEMA’s Executive Secretary, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, explained that the stakeholders’ meeting aimed to foster collaboration among stakeholders in preparation for the anticipated 2024 floods and to identify necessary support to bolster the flood response. He noted that recent wind and rain storms had already affected over 1000 households across three local government areas between April and May 2024.