The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have sensitised Kano residents to manage solid waste and prepare against flooding in the state.

Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA territorial coordinator, Kano state office, stated this on Saturday during a road walk sensitisation and public awareness in Kano.

The sensitisation on proper solid waste management and flood preparedness was organised by NEMA in collaboration with Kano SEMA and the Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB).

Mr Abdullahi, who was represented by Rilwan Isma’il, NEMA Kano principal accountant, said the sensitisation was aimed at creating awareness on how best to dispose of solid waste in Kano metropolis.

“We are here to sensitise the public to manage solid waste and the impact of disposing refuse indiscriminately.”

He noted that one of the causes of flooding in the city was blockage of waterways and drainages.

“If you look at this environment very well, you will see that the drainages are being blocked and once there is heavy rainfall, the water will not have its way and definitely becomes flooding because water will also have its way.

“People actually dispose of their refuse indiscriminately, which is against the law,” Mr Abdullahi said.

In his remarks, Isyaku Abudullahi-Kubarachi, executive secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said that improper dumping of refuse caused cholera, malaria and other communicable diseases.

He urged members of the public to maintain safety at all times and desist from any act of exposing them to disaster.

According to him, people should always clear their waterways for the development of Kano.

“The government can not do it alone; we need to clear our drainages and avoid dumping of refuse anyhow; it will not help the growth of the state,” he said.

(NAN)