SEMA engages Zaria communities on disaster risk reduction strategies

Executive Secretary, Abubakar Hassan (center) and his team at Zaria

By EDDY OCHIGBO

Vulnerable communities and wards in and around Zaria and its environs have been sensitized and strengthened to tackle possible disasters, ranging from gully erosion, insecurity, fire and rape vis-a-vis the ongoing environmental hazards awareness campaign across Kaduna state.

Keen watchers believe that the move - which is aimed at system strengthening on emergency coordination and response strategy - in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development's Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative (NERI) would drastically reduce peoples' vulnerability and possible disasters in the state.

"To prevent disasters, we must get the people equipped and prepared to understand what constitutes hazards, risks etc., as well as what they should do to identify early warning signs and signals. The exercise is taking place in all the wards and communities in Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari, Zaria City. We are trying to ensure that our strategy is stepped down at community level throughout the state", volunteered SEMA's Executive Secretary, Abubakar Hassan, after monitoring the exercise in Zaria and its environs.

He went on: "As Executive Secretary of SEMA, my desire is to lead from the front because leadership should be by example. I could decide to sit in my office and comfort zone and assign my staff to do the monitoring but given the significance of this exercise, I've decided to be part of the assignment to see things for myself, because it's important to encourage the people that one is dutiful and capable of leading them. Leadership is about motivation and SEMA under my leadership takes the campaign to the doorsteps of the people. Also of note is that we are not alone in this as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is actively involved in the exercise".

The exercise which commenced a few weeks ago, engaged field officers and deployed them to all the 23 local government areas of the state for hazard mapping and profiling and at the same time engage the existing local committees for their buy-in in the scheme of things.

Speaking to CUBINKS NEWS on the progress of the exercise, a field officer, Justina Peter maintained that "the major issue here in Zaria local government is erosion and flood especially in those communities that are close to rivers. This is a result of lack of waterways, good drainage when it rains and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste.

“They also have rape prevalence here. Most of the wards talked about rape. But, these are not reported because the parents will try to conceal it. They believe the girl may not see any man to marry in the future. The rape in many of the wards can happen at any time. However, many of the victims or survivors are hawking girls. They call them and pretend as if they want to buy what they are selling and in the process, corner and rape them. This is the trend here because the parents have continued to keep silent over this. We encourage them to be bold enough and approach human rights organisations for help.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary told Correspondents that "It is expected that these people we've reached out to would transfer their knowledge to others step by step. Leadership is about visibility and you should show those you are leading that you are determined. I should be able to show others the way to go. Even when you send people out, you need to supervise and be involved which will motivate those you are coordinating to do better. We are planning a meeting with all those that are working around safety. We have existing structures like the ward development committee. We are also building volunteers – from Mai Angwan to Dakachi to Hakimi and the Emir”.

An award-winning environmentalist and a consultant to the project, Gloria Kasang Bulus reasoned that “supportive supervision which is to see how we can support the field officers to help them fix those things that may be missing out as they engage local committees in their respective local government is important. For us as consultants, we are there to offer technical support while SEMA looks at the operational support they may need. That is why we also join them while they do hazard profiling.

So, we are going round to give support and encouragement in terms of technical or operational support so that at the end of the day, we can come up with a reliable document for contingencies plans here in Kaduna State which other states may want to borrow from".

The exercise monitored in Zaria is ongoing in all 23 local governments of Kaduna State where emerging challenges are being tackled.

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