I am delighted to address you today on this occasion of the flag-off of Sensizaon and Awareness Campaign on incidences of Flood Disaster in Nasarawa State, taking place here in Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area of the State.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it would be recalled that the Federal Ministry
of Environment and the National Meteorological Agency (NIMET), in collaboration with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), had earlier issued warnings on flooding, particularly the 2019 Annual Flood Outlook which predicted that this year’s raining season will be threatening and that some communities will be affected as a result of the likely flood disaster which will be
devastating.
As you are aware, flood is one of the effects of environmental degradation resulting to gully erosion with attendant negative consequences on human existence. You would recall that Nasarawa State like many other States in the country witnessed a flood disaster in the year 2012 which affected many parts of the State, resulting to loss of lives, farmlands, household and the destruction of public infrastructures worth billions of Naira.
It is also instructive to stress that the State is facing environmental challenges occasioned by mining activities, deforestation, over-grazing and pollution through
indiscriminate waste disposal. It is for this reason that the Government considered it
imperative to embark on mass sensation and awareness campaigns, especially in the Local Government Areas and the flash-points of the State that are prone to be flood
disasters. This endeavour is intended to put our communities on red alert and to take proactive measures to contain the situation in case of such eventualities. It is pertinent to state that in 2019 the identified communities prone to flood disasters in the State include: Karu/Karshi/ Keffi, Wamba, Obi, Keana/Awe and Lafia. Other likely areas are Ekye/Akpanaja, Rukubi, Oya, Ijiwo, Agyema in Doma Local Government Area and other villages along the axis. Communies along Loko and Umaisha riverine areas in Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas are also not le out. These and others not mentioned here but are also prone to the threat of flood disaster are advised to be vigilant and device preliminary measures that will prevent any occurrence of the phenomenon. Government on its part is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment in order to take advantage of its policies and programmes that are geared towards tackling environmental degradation. In this regard, Nasarawa State has already keyed into the Federal Government programmes of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradaon (REDD+) iniave, Nigeria Erosion and
Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), as well as Waste-to-Wealth initiative.
As you are aware, the State has numerous potentials to benefit from these efforts. It is not in doubt that the State is endowed with abundant mineral resources from which the
activities of miners have continued to cause environmental degradation such as erosion and other environmental hazards that are affecting our communities, which, I believe
our collaboration with the Federal Government will address this situation.
Similarly, Nasarawa State contributes many tributaries that form the River Benue. As a result of the proximity of some of our communities to this great River, therefore, they are always affected by flood disasters. This is evident in our recent experience where many communities were affected by flooding in 2012, 2013, and 2014, rendering many people homeless, social infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and roads as well as destroying crops and other economic trees. It is for this reason that I wish to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Environment to install Flood Automated Early Warning Equipment in the flood-prone areas of the State to detect and respond promptly to any warning sign of an impending flood disaster.
At this juncture, let me appeal to the good people of Nasarawa State, particularly, the areas that are prone to flood disasters to take precautional measures, as well as educate ourselves on proper ways of refuse disposal, avoid erection of structures along drainage and waterways which will block free passage of running water.
This and other preventive measures will go a long way in ensuring free flow of water from our streets. In the same vein, the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency is hereby directed to intensify campaigns and also collaborate with Local Government councils to set up monitoring committees in collaboration with the
traditional institutions with a view to taking proactive steps towards migrating the calamity and the inherent devastating effects of the phenomenon. I call on our
communities to cooperate and ensure that the sensizaon programme is successful by ensuring that our people comply with the appropriate authorities’ guidance to ensure that the incidence and consequence of flooding are reduced to the bearest minimum.
On this note, it is my pleasure to flag-off the Sensizaon and Awareness Campaign in our commitment to forestall the occurrence of flood disasters in our communities.
Thank you and may God bless us all.
