Kogi State SEMA/NEMA Tasks Stakeholders On Disaster Management

• Engages stakeholders in Nine Flood Prone areas on flood mitigation, prevention

By Abubakar Suleman

Kogi State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Organizes a 1-Day Stakeholders workshop Geared towards Emergency management, Flood preparedness, Enhancing Disaster Management Strategies in Kogi state.

The Agencies convened a stakeholders meeting onTuesday, 4th June 2024, at EdgeDrive Hotel, Lokoja for preparedness of key stakeholders; to identify challenges of disaster management, proffers possible solutions to them in the nine flood prone local government areas in the state.

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State and Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Comrade Joel Salifu who represented the Executive Governor of kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo said that the state government had always supported effective collaboration aimed at averting disasters.

He said Kogi state is particularly vulnerable to flooding due to the unique geographical location, saying the treat poses significant risks to lives, property, and overall development, especially in 9 local governments and even the state capital, lokoja.

He called on the stakeholders, government officials, community leaders, and experts to develop comprehensive and proactive strategies to mitigate the risks .

“As part of efforts by government on disaster management and support for victims of disasters, Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to strengthening the emergency management systems ,” he said.

He further stressed that the government alone cannot tackle this challenges alone, except with the participation and collaboration of all stakeholders, community engagement, public awareness, and inter-agency cordination saying that it is crucial in building a resilient Kogi state .

” Together, we must ensure that every community member understands the importance of preparedness and knows how to respond in the event of flood, which is a natural thing that could happen, adding that the state government is responsible to manage the effect on the people if it occurs”.

The governor however called on stakeholders to bring their expertise, resources and dedication to the table adding that the government and stakeholders will work together to safeguard Kogi state.

He assured stakeholders of the government’s preparedness to face the challenge of disasters that might come up in the state.

Earlier,In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah charged the participants to brace- up and prepare to mitigate possible flood this year as predicted by NIMET in its Seasonal Climate prediction (SCP) released.

Alhaji Atimah said that there was a need to sensitise stakeholders on the effective disaster management and quick response, he charged them to embrace disaster Risk Reduction strategies in order to reduce the effects of Disaster that may occur this year in kogi state.

According to him, ” There is a need to coordinate different response organisations, NGOs, volunteers and even communities in order to achieve the desired result,” he said.

The Executive Secretary added that the meeting would enable stakeholders to identify the most critical disasters, response as well as the implementation of the national disaster plan.

A paper presentation was made by an officer from NEMA headquarters, Mr. Justin Uwazurounye who talked about Situational analysis of Emergencies in Kogi state.

Mr. Uwazurounye highlighted some of the incidences NEMA has so far responded to in the country.

He called on all stakeholders to sensitive the people of their communities on how to avert flood by clearing the dirt and blockages in their environment inorder to create water channel.

In another presentation made by the lieutenant commodore of NNS Lugard base in Kogi state, lieutenant commodore AY Al-Mustapha highlighted the need for providing security measures during flooding in the community.

He analyse the 2024 Seasonal flood security measures, said that the NNS Lugard base will continue to map out security strategies and ensure that lives and properties are protected during the flooding in the state.

In his goodwill message, the Royal Majesty, Ohimegye-Igu Of Koton-karfe, Dr. Salihu Akawu said among the nine flood prone local government areas, three are always the worst hitted, mentioned Lokoja, Kogi and Ibaji, he commended the organizers of the workshops for the timely programme, saying that this is the first step amongst others in ensuring that knowledgeable stakeholders gather to deliberate and work out proficient strategies to drive climate intervention processes in Kogi state.

He further stressed that the meeting was aimed at sensitising the stakeholders in the flood prone areas especially the preparedness in communities on disaster management.

According to him, “ I can see that stakeholders with vast experiences in various fields have been brought together to brainstorm on disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies that would assist in preparing for and responding to expected impact of the predicted climate hazards.

“To this end, it’s crucial to disseminate and communicate timely and credible early warning information to enable communities and institutions to anticipate and prepare for disasters by implementing anticipatory action before they occur”, he advised.

Participants are drawn from the Dsss, Naval Base, Civil Defence corps, Vigilantees, ministry of water Resources, ministry of Housing and urban development, traditional institutions and many other stakeholders in the state.

Among the personalities present at the colourful event were the Ohimegye-Igu Of Koton-karfe, HRM, Dr. Saidu Salihu Akawu, HRH, Maigari Of Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir, Markafi IV, Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Mrs Comfort Egwaba, Hon. Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr. MD Yahaya Faruk, and host of others.