Beacon Youths Initiative Collaborate Nasarawa State Government to Mtigate Effects of Climate Change

By Esther Enna
11/08/2024. LAFIA/CLIMATE
A Non Governmental Organisation, Beacon Youths Initiative in collaboration with Education As a Vaccine, EVA under the African Activists for Climate Justice Project AACJ says it will partner Nasarawa State Government to mitigate adverse effects of climate change in the State.
The Executive Director, Beacon Youths Initiative, Mr Envoh Emmanuel Okolo, stated this during an advocacy visit in Lafia the State Capital.
Mr Envoh explained that the visit to Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Special Duties on Humanitarian, Social Services and NGO’s and Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, NASEMA was to ascertain the level of preparation by the state government following warnings by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet on impending flood was to collaborate with them in that regard since Nasarawa is listed as a flood prone state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Rosha said the Ministry has put modalities on ground with automated early flood warning machines connected to a phone in all the flood prone areas across the state to alert riverine communities about imminent flood.
Alhaji Rosha noted that the Ministry has been sensitizing people of the state expecially people leaving in riverine areas to vacate to safer grounds and on monthly sanitation, encouraging them to clear waterways and stop dumping refuse on waterways.
He commended Beacon Youths Initiative and Education As a Vaccine for their giant strides saying the ministry’s doors woul always be open for any partnership beneficial to citizens of the state.
Director General of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, NASEMA, Zakari Zamani Allumaga said the agency had at the commencement of this year’s rainy season embarked on sensitization of communities living in high flood prone areas among other flash points in local government areas to remind residents of dangers posed by floods.
He warned people of the state to strictly adhere to flood predictions by Nigeria Meteorological Agency NiMet and National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, avoid farming or building on waterways and those living in flood prone areas to relocate at least temporary to safer areas .
Barrister Allumaga gave assurances that the Agency would not relent in its commitments to discharging its mandate of preventing and mitigating disasters through awareness creation, evacuation and provision of relief materials to victims of disasters .
While at the Ministry of Special Duties on Humanitarian, Social Services and NGOs, Commissioner incharge of the Ministry, Princess Margaret Elayo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hussaini Usman explained that the state government in collaboration with community leaders among other stakeholders constituted a taskforce to sensitize people leaving in flood prone areas to relocate to more safer areas.
Princess Margaret Elayo Commended Beacon Youths Initiative and Education As a Vaccine, EVA under the African Activists for Climate Justice Project, AACJ, stressing that her Ministry would synergize with them to mitigate the effects of climate change across the state.


