From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has embarked on a massive awareness campaign to sensitize flood-prone communities and the general public on the importance of clearing waterways.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the move was to prevent flooding ahead of the rainy season.
Mr. Garba Mohammed –Rosha, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed this on Saturday in Lafia, shortly after monitoring the monthly sanitation.
Mohammed -Rosha emphasized that the prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and past experiences of flooding necessitated the campaign.
“The state government has put measures in place to ensure that communities in flood-prone areas relocate to highlands and the public clear drains to allow free flow of water.
READ ALSO: Nasarawa Lawmakers Suspend Screening of Commissioner Nominee Over Alleged Insubordination
“Traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and mass media sensitisation programmes have been engaged to enlighten the public on the dangers of flooding and steps to prevent it,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance during the February sanitation exercise.
He, however, urged residents to maintain a clean environment to prevent disease outbreaks.
On his part, Mr Christopher Abari, Secretary of Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority, noted that the effort was aimed to mitigate the impact of flooding, which has ravaged the state in the past.
Abari added that the agency has provided vehicles to evacuate waste and ensure the state remains clean and disease-free.