By 
Abia Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, has charged residents of Aba South and North to ensure proper waste disposal in order to avert impending danger of flooding as predicted by the Nigeria Hydrological service (NIHSA) and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
The Commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ikechukwu Chidozie Oriuwa who gave the advice recently, emphasised the need for all the residents of Aba to imbibe all proactive measures to ensure safety of lives and property.
He warned Abians against building on water ways and blocking the drainages with domestic waste.
Also speaking, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere SSA to the Governor on Environment and Lady Urenna Abazie, Director General, State Orientation Agency, advised Abians against improper disposal of waste, insisting that this practice will make them prone to flooding.
Lending their voices, relevant stakeholders on disaster management, including: A. C Onuegbu, Co-ordinator Disaster Management Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
Mr. Joshua Ohabiro representing the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. John Ogbonnaya of the Nigeria Fire Services, all spoke on precautionary measures to be taken in times of emergencies and flooding, informing that women, children and persons with disabilities should be evacuated, adding that people should endeavour to know safety evacuation routes and emergency shelters.
Mrs. Happiness Akpulonu, Head of Department, Pollution Control and Environmental Health of the Ministry, also spoke on the dangers of scooping sand from untarred roads, contending that this remains a major cause of flooding.
Mr. Chris Ike, Head of Department, Climate Change, emphasised the need for positive response from all, urging communities not to hesitate to inform the Ministry of Environment and relevant bodies of emergency issues so as to nip the situation in the bud.
In their separate responses, the Chairman Aba South LGA Hon. Obialo Anyanwu and Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, of Aba North LGA commended the State Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti for his visionary leadership in rebranding Abia and immediate response to the predictions to ensure total safety of Ndi Abia.
They also lauded the Team for their painstaking sensitisation, promising to sensitize and take the information down to various communities under the LGAs.
Comments