The management of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency has met with the Nigerian Red Cross to seek support to tackle the expected flood in the year.
Recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had listed Kogi as one of the states expected to experience flooding during the rainy season. It said that the state would also be impacted by the opening of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon later this year.
The Executive Secretary of Kogi SEMA, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, who led the team to the Red Cross office in Lokoja, said that the aim of the visit was to further solicit support ahead of the flood prediction released by NiMet.
“Disaster risk reduction is a collective problem that requires a collective approach involving governments, communities and humanitarian organisations,”he said. “Given this, SEMA recognises the critical roles of the Nigerian Red Cross in disaster management,”.
He demanded effective collaboration, synergy and support that would complement the proactive measures and preparedness of the agency.
On his part, Sunday Isiaka, a director at Red Cross said that the organisation had always responded to disaster outbreaks. It urged KOSEMA to share data information that would help in addressing flooding in the state.
He noted that the Nigerian Red Cross was aware of the NiMet climate predictions, adding that the proactive steps the KOSEMA boss had taken would further make the agency work better and deliver on its mandate.
Story was adapted from Punch.
