By Sani Idris

The World Bank-supported Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) said on Tuesday that it would install Automated Flood Early Warning System and Weather Station as part of efforts to mitigate flooding in Kaduna State.  

The coordinator of the project in the state, Mr Jibril Dahiru, stated this at the sensitization of Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) and other community leaders on appropriate solid waste management in Kaduna.

Dahiru said that NEWMAP was funded by the World Bank in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

According to him, the flood early warning system is critical to mitigating the incidence of flooding in the state.

he said that NEWMAP was designed to help make the environment better and to improve lives by addressing the menace of erosion and land degradation.

He explained that the sensitisation was to educate stakeholders on the effects of erosion and the need to reduce its prevalence and improve the existence of ecosystems in communities.

He added that the project was also to reduce vulnerability of soil erosion in prone areas through tree planting in degraded areas, evacuation of waste and conversion of dump sites to orchards in the 23 LGAs.

Describing environmental pollution as “worrisome” the coordinator noted that sensitising students, traditional leaders and the CSO’s would help mobilise communities for proper solid waste disposal.

Also, Mr Muazu Usman, the Director of Environment of the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, said people were still ignorant of the existence of climate change responsible for environmental pollution.

Usman explained that one of the mandates of the NEWMAP project was how to sustainably manage the environment for sustainable development.

“Many people still do not understand what climate change is about, therefore, sensitising them will be a step towards ensuring safe climate practices.

Some of the students at the meeting expressed commitment to favourable environmental practices to contribute to decreasing environmental pollution.

One of the students from Sardauna Memorial College, Aliyu Abubakar, whose mother sells food made a commitment to discourage his mother from the use of disposable packs in serving foods.

“I will equally encourage her to use clean cook stuff,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders at the meeting are UNICEF, World Health Organisation, environment-based NGOs and other stakeholders.