Following the wake up call by a Niger Delta Environmental Consultant, Com.Franklin Magada to state governments across the Niger Delta to take preemptive environmental responsibility measures to safeguard the environment and the people from the risk of an impending flood disaster that may have huge consequences on the states, the Delta State government, yesterday, announced the appointment of a 10-Man Flood Disaster Management Committee.
The Environmentalist who is particularly pleased with the development describes the Delta State governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa as a people oriented and responsible leader who cares about the protection of lives and properties of the citizens.
He states further that, “as first among the Niger Delta States to respond by setting up a 10-Man 2020 Flood Disaster Management Committee with the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Mr. Omamofe Pirah Commissioner for Bureau of Special Duties as the chairman and co-chairman respectively, it is highly commendable and should be emulated by other states to prepare the ground to combat the eventual outbreak of the looming flood”.
Com. Franklin Magada who is the Director of Niger Delta Environmental Monitors (NDEM) charges further that the committee should not be political in discharging their duties as majority of its members are politicians without the requisite experience and expertise in environmental matters.
According to him, “this charge has become necessary because we are dealing with an environmental disaster situation that may involve risks that only professional approach is needed to deal with. We will be glad to assist with available flood disaster techniques some of which we have already started taken on a flood awareness campaign in Burutu Local Government Area with the theme: “FLOOD IS POSSIBLE, BE PREPARED” that will eventually cut across the 18 Local Government Areas as forecast.
