Environment
2012 Flood Disaster Victims Appeal To FG For Support
Some communities which
were affected in the 2012 flood disaster have appealed to the federal and state governments for more support to enable them to get back to their feet.
It would be recalled that the flooding in September 2012, ravaged more than 300 communities in 14 local government areas of the state.
The Federal Government also assisted the state with the sum of N5 million grant to support the victims.
An investigation showed that the state, in the last two years, had been using the grant to support the affected victims.
A visit to Oko communities in Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state showed that majority of the victims had yet to recover from the effects of the disaster.
Chief Patrick Ogu, one of the community leaders in Oko, acknowledged that the government had done a lot but still appealed for more support for his people.
According to him, the federal and state governments have done a lot but there is still a lot to be achieved because our people have social problems, which were caused by the disaster.
“In the area of schools and health centres, we need school buildings as well as health centres because during the flood disaster, our school buildings were brought down.
“And most of these buildings have not been replaced and this is a very big challenge to our children, who now have no other option than to learn under dilapidated buildings.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the federal and state governments to help us renovate these schools and health centres,” Ogu said.
Also, Chief Michael Nwadukwe, the Isama Akwua of Oko, said the doctors and nurses who were posted to the community hardly stayed there because of the poor state of the health centres.
According to him, the damages caused by the 2012 flood caused a lot of hardship to the Oko community.
Nwadukwe also appealed for more support for the people, especially the farmers, to enable them to go back to their occupation.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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