Rivers state Sole Administrator Vice Admiral lbok Eye lbas (rtd) has said the state government is working to establish Rivers State Emergency Agency to take over the responsibility of the central working committee for emergency preparedness flood management and control.
Speaking spoke during the sensitisation campaign of the central working committee on flood management and control in Port Harcourt.
Vice Admiral lbas said the initiative form part of the state proactive strategy to mitigate flooding awareness, prevention, preparedness and community participation.
Represented by the secretary to the state government, Prof lbibia Lucky Worika, the administrator advised the committee to go beyond responding to disaster and instead anticipate vulnerable areas to reduce impact of flooding and good precedent of knowledge and tool to protect himself.
“We recognise that flood management cannot be achieved by government alone. It is a sheet partnership between the public sector within our state and local government levels, local communities, civil society as well as private sector. What is new and what gives me hope and confident is that the new determination to address the challenges by providing proper information and solution,” he said.
The event was attended by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Red Cross Society, NSCDC, Traditional Rulers Council and was put together by the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
