By Olamilekan FAWAS
The Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), on Saturday, urged residents of the state to desist from dumping refuse into drains and to remove debris and structures along water ways to avoid flooding.
Mr Lucky Barau, General Manager, NISEPA, made the call in Minna. “Going by the prediction of Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) that there will be excess rainfall this year we have gone round the eight emirates councils in the state to sensitise the people.
“We have been sensitizing them on the dangers of flooding and how to mitigate it toward saving lives and property,’’ he said.
Barau said the agency advised people of the state to remove debris from the drains near their houses to enable free flow of water.
“If the drains are not clean enough to enable free flow of water, then there is tendency that the area will be flooded with water thereby submerging farmlands, houses, other properties and even claiming lives.
“We use this medium to appeal to our people to stop dumping anything that will hinder free flow of water into the drains across the state to help our environment and prevent flooding. They should also desist from building or constructing structures on the water ways,’’ he said.
He enjoined people in markets, households, public offices, business areas among others in the state to construct toilets or conveniences to avoid open defecation that could result to outbreak of cholera and other diseases.
TBI Africa reports that the eight emirates councils in the state include Agaie, Bida, Kontagora, Suleja, Lapai, Kagara, Borgu and Minna, the state capital.
The state covers a total land area of 76, 000 square kilometres, which is nine per cent of Nigeria’s land mass making it the largest in the country in terms of landmass.
