By Aisha Ahmed Dutse
Alhaji Adamu Sabo, the Managing Director, Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency JISEPA, says the agency has concluded plans to desilt drains across nine 9 high risk local government areas LGAs of the state to avert flooding.
Sabo, made the disclosure on Wednesday at a one-day sensitization workshop to educate stakeholders on management of solid waste.
He said that drains are usually blocked due indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water ways, noting that there also exists, an attitude of poor waste management amongst people.
The MD pointed out that blocked drains is a major culprit that cause flash flood.
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In a paper he presented titled “Waste and Drainage Management,” the MD highlighted the linkages between waste management and flooding.
He said that the two, require concerted effort of the government agencies, communities and all other stakeholders to tackle the situation.
“We can reduce flood risk, protect public health and promote sustainable development through integrated approach to environmental management,” Sabo said.
According to him, the agency is responsible for the maintenace of sanitation in the state and it has been doing a lot in prevention, preparedness and response.
This, he said is because flash floods are often exacerbated in areas with poor drains.
“Also, we are mapping out waste existing in collection points in major cities and we have built more waste collection points.
“Since inception, we embarked on sensitization of communities and stakeholders, on the dangers associated with poor waste management.
“Under the Namadi administration, we have also strengthened sanitary inspection of regulated and no regulated premises to halt or sanction defaulters,” Sabo said.
In his remarks, the Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency,(NEMA), Dr Nura Abdullahi, said the sensitization is part of NEMA’s preparedness against flood.
He explained that solid waste, if poorly managed, usually block waterways and wreck havoc on communities.
Nura said, according to Nigeria Hydrological Agency’s (NIHSA) 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), 19 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Jigawa, have fallen within high and moderate flood risk areas.
He noted that the forecast made it necessary to sensitise all stakeholders and map out ways to mitigate flood.
The one-day workshop was organised by the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (JISEMA), Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In his speech, Mr Yoann Cancan, Emergency Officer, UNICEF Kano Field Office, urged residents to adopt modern waste management system to mitigate flooding in the state.
Cancan also advised residents to avoid dumping of solid waste and refuse in drains, in view of its negative effect to the environment.
