The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says disaster management is everybody’s business, not just federal government agencies’.

Zainab Suleiman-Saidu, head of operations, Minna Operations Office,
 said this on Tuesday at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on Sustainable Waste Management and Flood Preparedness held at Kwara State Library, Ilorin.

“Disaster management is not just the business of NEMA or government agencies. It is everybody’s business,” said Mrs Suleiman-Saidu. “We must put our heads together to manage disaster in year 2024. We must show concern and stop showing negligence.”

According to her, flood preparedness and waste management require a collaborative effort from governments, the private sector and local communities to build resilience against natural disasters.

She said proactive measures are essential with the increasing frequency and severity of floods due to climate change.

“Flood preparedness is very vital for safeguarding lives and property. Sustainable solutions are achievable through cooperation and dedication,” the NEMA official said.

She warned that Kwara had been marked as a high-risk area for 2024 and called for proactive measures to prevent the risk occurrence.

The head of operation also advised the public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse to keep the environment safe.

Mrs Suleiman-Saidu also echoed the need to manage waste properly rather than disposing of it into drains that would later lead to flooding.

The NEMA official advised parents to tell their children how to dispose of waste properly without causing environmental disaster.

The Kwara Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Buge, stressed that the public must be safety-conscious and stop being careless about their environment.

Representatives from the National Orientation Agency, NESREA, Red Cross and the National Union for Road Transport Workers attended the workshop.

Also, Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) representatives, the National Youth Service Corps, Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), and market women attended the workshop.

The special adviser to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq on special duties, Abdulrasak Jida and the state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Olusegun Ogunshola, led state representatives to the workshop.

(NAN)