NSCDC moves to tackle flooding, launches campaign
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has launched a nationwide campaign against building along waterways and indiscriminate dumping of waste in water channels, reiterating the need to take precautionary measures to avert flood disasters in the country.
Following the earlier warning published by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Dr Audi flagged off the advocacy campaign at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja as a proactive measure in mitigating flooding associated with rainy seasons, noting that all hands must be on deck.
He has also directed the 36 State and FCT Commandants to cascade the same campaign to various communities and urge the public to turn a new leaf in the act of triggering man-made disasters through their actions and disposition.
Spokesperson of the Corps, Babawale Afolabi, said in a statement on Tuesday that the CG decried the indiscriminate manner in which people dump refuse while some erect structures along waterways without properly channelling the tide, thereby causing loss of lives and property.
According to him, “the NSCDC has a statutory responsibility of disaster management and rescue operations in which the Corps has over time carried out an awareness and sensitization programme on human actions that trigger disaster occurrence and the need to desist from such; we engage in rescuing victims in the face of emergencies and provide security for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) during the distribution of relief materials to victims or displaced persons.
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Assistant Commandant General, Directorate of Crisis Management, ACG Pedro Awili Ideba, explained that the advocacy campaign was to educate and enlighten the public on the inherent dangers of flooding and spur them to a positive disposition and change of attitude.
At the Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat, the CG, who was represented by the Commandant in charge of the Disaster Management Department, Commandant of Corps Anthony Nwegbo, appreciated the Council Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, and his team for their good sanitary work and urged them to cascade the message of collectively embarking on flood prevention measures to the entire members of the community.
The Honourable Giri, in response, blamed the people for being responsible for the menace but pledged to extend the enlightenment to his council members, staff, and subjects, as he appreciated the NSCDC for the advocacy campaign in his council.
Similarly, at the Palace of the Aguma of Gwagwalada, where the team was received by Waziri, Mallam Bala Garba Madaki, on behalf of the Monarch, the representative of the CG, Commandant Anthony Nwegbo, acknowledged the role of the traditional institution in passing vital information to their subjects, stressing the need for all and sundry to adopt measures to avert flood disaster this year.
Responding, the Waziri pledged on behalf of the monarch and his lieutenants to pass the message down for full implementation.
The campaign was later taken to locations like Dagiri, Park Road, Agwan Gwari, Agwan Dodo, and Secretariat Road.
Another highlight of the campaign was the distribution of fliers, some with inscriptions such as “Let’s stop the flood before it stops us,” “If you block my natural ways, I will meet you in your homes, on the highway inside your car,” “The fight against flood starts with you and me,” and “If you leave me, I will leave you; if you disturb me, I will disturb you more; be warned,” among others.
