…As NUJ Boss Harps On Utmost Sensitisation

The Chairman, Nigeria
Union of Journalist, (NUJ) Rivers State Council, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, has called on the Rivers State Government to consolidate its efforts made so far in preparedness for cushioning the effect of the expected flooding in 2013 in some local government areas of the state.
Mr. Dokubo who stated this while speaking to our correspondent in his office in Port Harcourt said he was aware that government was putting a lot of efforts towards reducing the effect of flooding in parts of the state.
“But whether that effort is enough is another matter.
“I think we can do more to sensitise the people even as I do not believe that they need much sensitisation,” he said.
According to him, since the people knew what happened to them last year and again it was being expected it has become necessary for those living in the affected local government areas to sit up.
He said the areas the flood was expected to affect should be concentrated on in terms of consciousness on the menace of the flood.
“How much consciousness have we built among the people, how much do they know? But much as I accept that government has done enough, a lot I think there is nothing that will be too much to do,” he said.
The NUJ boss said government could not raise the consciousness of the people enough even as he said the people could not be asked to be alert enough until “we get to that point where every individual in that area believes that enough has been done.
He opined that government and the media could not afford to stop in its preparedness to sensitise the public.
“All hands must be on deck because the destruction that it brought last year destabilised a lot of people.A lot of livelihood, a lot of economic activities and it affects everybody,” he said.
He said the bottom line was that so much was being done but “we should still do more” until we’re able to contain it to the bearest minimum.
“If it will come, it will come, we can’t stop it but then we really need to prepare enough so that we can reduce the suffering of the people,” he said.
It could be noted that the local governments in the state that would be affected according to NIMET reports include Abolga, Awelga, Aelga, Onelga, Degema and Okrika.