The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) has engaged stakeholders on flood disaster preparedness in Nasarawa State in order to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Officer (PMER) of the Red Cross in Abuja, Mr. Aminu Bagudo, during the stakeholders’ engagement, said the simulation exercise is to tell and show the communities, in a practical sense, how to evacuate people when floods happen.
According to Bagudo, the project is supported by the Italian government through the International Federation of Red Cross, and the Nigerian Red Cross are the implementers of the project.
He said the project is all about flood and the early warning, early response, and early actions that could avert the flood from affecting people.
“A key component of the project is a simulation exercise, which we are planning to do on Friday, Aug. 15, in a riverine community in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.”
“Today’s engagement is to ensure that stakeholders are kept abreast of their roles and participate in the simulation exercise.”
“Twelve states are taking part in the project, but the simulation exercise is going to take place in six states, with Nasarawa inclusive. This would enable the community members to learn practical tips on early warning and response when floods occur,” Bagudo noted.
Also speaking, the Branch Secretary of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Nasarawa State, Mr. Jerry Danjuma Kuje, appreciated the Italian government, the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the national headquarters, for including Nasarawa State and supporting these activities.
He said the aim of the engagement is to identify major stakeholders that would collaborate and work together in order to achieve a common goal.
According to Mr. Kuje, 60 volunteers drawn from the chosen communities of Wamba LGA and Nasarawa LGA were adequately trained for sensitisation, which is ongoing and would last for two months.
“The people of Lagin Community in Wamba, where the simulation exercise will hold, are very excited because they confirmed that the exercise was timely, saying that six people lost their lives to flooding last year,” he said.
In his remarks, the General Manager (GM) of the Nasarawa State Water Board, Dr. Kana Ahmed-Abubakar, commended NRCS for the effort aimed at mitigating the impact of flood disaster.
He emphasised the need for stakeholder collaboration to address the issue of flooding.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Director General of the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Engr. Maidunama Muhammad Waziri, said places that are not even flooded become flooded during the rainy season.
Therefore, critical areas that are more affected need special attention by educating the citizens on early warning and providing support where necessary.
Voice of Nigeria (VON) reports that stakeholders at the meeting included the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, representatives from the State Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, the traditional institution, and the media.