Editor
The National Emergency Management Agency North Central Zone, in partnership with Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA),has organized a Stakeholders workshop on proper waste management and flood preparedness on Thursday in Makurdi, Benue State.
In her inaugural address, the Director General of the agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, highlighted the significance of the workshop in light of the Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
She emphasized the heightened risk of flooding in certain Local Government Areas in the North Central states, including Benue, urging a united effort to devise effective mitigation strategies.
The Director General, represented by the North Central Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Eugene Nyelong, underscored the pivotal role of Proper Waste Management in flood mitigation, the central focus of the workshop.
She noted the escalating rate of waste production, which poses environmental, economic, and social challenges due to its adverse impacts.
Zubaida emphasized that Waste Management is an all-encompassing issue, extending from household waste to industrial waste, with profound implications for health, communities, and the planet at large.
The Director General emphasized that inadequate waste management can result in pollution, health risks, and resource depletion, whereas efficient waste management can conserve resources, safeguard public health, and prevent ecological degradation, acting as a bulwark against climate change.
She highlighted that the workshop aimed to address these critical issues and delve into waste reduction, re-use, and recycling principles. The Director General concluded by urging participants to recognize the enduring impact of their waste management actions on future generations, urging them to actively contribute to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment.
The two-day program on proper waste management and flood preparedness in Benue State commenced on Wednesday, 14th August 2024, with a radio program on Radio Benue featuring the Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Eugene Nyelong, and the Director General of Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency (BESEMA), Mrs. Daniel Nnashima Jennifer.
This program aimed to enlighten and sensitize communities and LGAs at risk of flooding as per the NIMET Prediction.
Following the radio program, advocacy and sensitization visits were conducted with key stakeholders in disaster management in the state. Lectures and informational flyers on proper waste management and flood preparedness were distributed to the management and traders of Wuruku market.
In his closing remarks at the workshop, the Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BESEMA), Sir James Jehide, expressed gratitude to NEMA for organizing the workshop, recognizing its role in educating flood-prone LGAs and communities.
The Executive Secretary, represented by Mr. James Dohina (Principal Aide to the ES), pledged to uphold the ongoing collaboration between BESEMA and NEMA, highlighting the support received by Benue State from NEMA even prior to the 2012 flood incident.
The workshop featured presentations on waste management and food control, as well as the sustainable plan for Benue by Mrs. Daniel Nnashima Jennifer from BESEMA, and the Need for Effective Waste Management Policies by S.C. BENUE Daniel from the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Held at Benue Metropolitan Hotel in Makurdi, the workshop saw participation from the Police, Civil Defense, Red Cross, FRSC, and community leaders from flood-prone areas, among others.
