Disaster management should not be left for the Federal Government agencies alone.
That was the view of Hajiya Zainab Suleiman-Saidu, Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna Operations Office, at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on Sustainable Waste Management and Flood Preparedness held at Kwara State Library, Ilorin, on Tuesday.
According to Suleiman-Saidu, disaster management is everybody’s business and not just the business of Federal Government agencies.
She added that governments, private sector and local communities must collaborate to ensure adequate flood preparedness and waste management in order to combat natural disasters effectively.
“Disaster management is not just the business of NEMA or government agencies. It is everybody’s business,” she said.
“We must put our heads together to manage disaster in year 2024. We must show concern and stop showing negligence.
“Flood preparedness is very vital for safeguarding lives and property. Sustainable solutions are achievable through cooperation and dedication.”
She noted that Kwara had been marked as an high-risk area for 2024, and requires proactive measures to prevent the predicted risk from occurring.
Furthermore, Suleiman-Saidu warned the public against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, adding that there are designated places where waste should be dumped instead of the drains to keep the environment clean and safe.
She said: “Drop the waste into a designated place and it can be taken to a recycling company to be reused.
“It is not every waste that is useless. Most are very useful when they get to the recycling companies.”
She urged women, religious leaders, community leaders, traditional rulers, youth organisations and other concerned citizens to sensitise the people on waste management, urging parents to teach their children how to dispose waste properly without causing environmental disaster.
Hajia Nafisat Buge, the Kwara Commissioner for Environment,who was represented by Mrs Mary Mustapha from the Ministry of Environment, also appealed to the public to adhere strictly to the warnings of She harped on the need for the public to be safety-conscious and stop messing their environment.
Hajia Ramatu Turaki, who was the Lead Speaker from NEMA, also advised the public to use resources responsibly and stop being waste agents, warning that indiscriminate dumping of refuse was dangerous to the environment.