Disaster management: Kaduna begins identification of ‘hazardous points’

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has begun identifying hazardous places in the 23 LGAs of the state, for emergency response in case of disaster.

Abubakar Hassan, the agency’s executive secretary, said this on Thursday during a meeting with the vice-chairmen and directors, education and social development (EDS) from all the LGAs of the state.

According to him, the meeting is part of a project with focus on reviewing the state’s emergency contingency plan by identifying hazardous points in communities in order to reduce their susceptibility to disasters.

Hassan said communities need to be educated on the hazards around them, so they can know what to do to mitigate the occurrence of disasters whenever it occurs.

“We are bringing vice-chairmen of the 23 LGAs, who are also the chairmen of the local emergency management committee (LEMC) as the first structure of the national disaster management framework to participate in the planning so that communities can own the process.” he said.

Hassan added that education and social development will serve as a permanent structure within the LGAs to inform the chairmen on emergency measures.

Imam Garki, north-west zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), commended the efforts of the state agency.

He also urged participants to take responsibility and make good use of the opportunity offered by the programme.

The project is organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative (NERI) with full funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).