Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reiterated its commitment to tackling natural disasters, especially flood affected communities in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of the South South Zone.
The South South Zonal Coordinator, Mr Godwin Tepikor stated this in an exclusive interview with Nigerian NewsDirect in Port Harcourt.
According to him, since he assumed office barely four months ago in Port Harcourt,he has quickly set in motion advocacy meetings with other stakeholders such as FRSC, NCDC, Police, among others to sensitize them on the need to collaborate in addressing natural disasters in the zone.
Tepikor said all hands must be on deck now that the rains are here to ensure that the drains and waterways are cleared to mitigate flooding.
The South South Zonal Coordinator also said that NEMA in the zone under his leadership will in collaboration with the state, local government and other stakeholders ensure that heavily impacted people are moved to higher grounds.
This, he said has become necessary due to NIMET prediction on possible flooding this year.
He equally said that in extreme cases, NEMA will provide relief materials to the IDPs to cushion the effect of dislocation.
The Coordinator said that it is expected that the states and even local governments set up State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Local Government Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) as the case may be to complement the efforts of the Federal Government through NEMA.
On their part, he said NEMA coordinates the activities of international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society to provide succour to victims of natural disasters in the affected states and country at large.
Tepikor said, so far 8 local government areas in Rivers State fall under highly probable flood risk areas,while 8 fall under probable flood risk areas. The most affected he said are the Orashi Region of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni(ONELGA),Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Abua/Odual.
The Zonal Coordinator said that the Akwa Ibom and Cross River States also had their fair share of the disasters, with Eket,Ikot Abasi and Calabar South mostly affected.
The Zonal Coordinator said he has intensified sensitization through radio jingles and advocacy to educate people on the impending disaster,as it concerns Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) recent prediction.
He said, he regretted that the problem with the states and country at large is not lackof laws,but weak enforcement mechanism.
Tepikor reiterated that the state waste management agency like Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) in Rivers State is expected to enforce compliance on waste management services by driving the disposal of wastes, distilling of drains and in fact the entire waste management services to ensure easy flow of waters in the state.
The Coordinator said he is not aware of the existence of such in the State,but for Akwa Ibom and Cross River, he can confirm that such thing exists there.
The Zonal Coordinator however said since assumption of office in Port Harcourt, has been working with the Ministry of Special Duties, indicative that relationship with the State Government is cordial.