YOBE STATE GOVERNMENT, STAKEHOLDRES BRAINSTORM ON WAYS OF MITIGATING EFFECTS OF FLOOD DISASTER
By Alkasim Bala
Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni says his administration is considering all measures towards mitigating the effects of climate change and flood disaster in the state.
Governor Mai Mala Buni stated this while declaring open a one day High level stakeholders engagement on 2023 flood preparedness and Response in Yobe state
The one day High level engagement was organised by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency SEMA in collaboration with Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arad Landscapes project with a view to bring stakeholders together to brainstorm and recommend ways of mitigating the effects of expected flood disaster in some communities across Yobe state as predicted by NimET.
The Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni Represented by the Secretary to the state government Alhaji Baba Malam Wali said his administration was very firm in combatting the effects of flood disaster through active preparedness and Response.
According to him in previous years, the state was affected by the incidences of flood disaster across various local government areas which causes loss of lives and property hence the timely hosting of the high level stakeholders engagement to look at this year’s NiMET seasonal flood predictions as it affect Yobe state.
He revealed that this year, NiMET alert has predicted flood incidences in some LGAs like Bursari, Karasuwa, Jakusko, Bade, Yunusari and Gaidam local government areas.
The Governor therefore assured readiness of his administration to engage with development partners, local government officials and other stakeholders to address the challenges of flood in the state .
Earlier the Executive Secretary State Emergency Management Agency SEMA Dr Muhammad Goje said the agency was working on a blueprint on how mitigate the incidences and consequences of flood across the state and therefore needed inputs from stakeholders to achieve the desired result.
In a remarks, the state project coordinator Agro climate Resilience in semi arid landscape ACReSAL Shehu Alhaji Mohammad explained that Yobe state was partnering with federal government and world bank funded projects to tackle the problem of desertification and climate change in the state.
In a paper presentation, the lead consultant professor Daniel Musa Gwary who is also the Director Center for Arid zone studies, University of Maiduguri dwelled on climate risk in Northeast Nigeria and its impacts on agriculture and food security.
The engagement was attended by local government chairmen, security agencies, traditional rulers , religious leaders , youth and women groups as well as civil society organizations among others.
