The National Emergency Management Agency has sensitised disaster management stakeholders to proper waste management and flood preparedness in Abia State.

The sensitisation and public awareness campaign organised by NEMA Owerri Operations in Umuahia on Wednesday, had the stakeholders engage in panel discussion on waste management.

The exercise was tagged, “Awareness campaign on waste management and flood disaster, mitigation and response programme.’’

The stakeholders were drawn from the ministries of environment, health, works, housing, security agencies, Nigerian Red Cross Society, civil society organisations and others.

The participants who discussed critical issues concerning waste management and flood disaster called for attitudinal change among the people in order to mitigate the impact.

In a speech, the Head of Operations, NEMA Owerri/Abia, Nnandi Igwe, said that improper disposal and inefficient recycling practices led to overflowing landfills, polluted oceans, and compromised ecosystems.

He said that it was crucial to educate the communities on the importance of waste reduction and proper disposal.

According to him, waste management and flood disaster mitigation are intertwined challenges that demand immediate attention and concerted efforts from all sectors of society.

He called on the stakeholders to collaborate with NEMA to build a future “where waste is managed sustainably and communities are resilient in the face of floods.”

Also in a remark, Executive Secretary, Abia State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Sunday Jackson, said that effective preparedness would lead to prompt response when disaster occurred.

He commended NEMA for the sensitisation, saying that the state had been affected by flood devastation.

The SEMA boss disclosed that 2024 flooding had already claimed five lives in Obingwu Community in the Ukwa West Local Government Area.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Alex Otti for being supportive to issues pertaining to disaster management in the state.

“I describe him as a disaster management-friendly governor because of his actions in disaster curtailment activities,” Mr Jackson said.

(NAN)