By
Babangida Galleon
Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has called on the federal government to find a lasting solution to flooding experienced across the country.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri made the call when he hosted the director general of the national emergency management agency NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed and some management staff while on a courtesy call in his office at the government house Yola.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said in order to mitigate the effect of flood disaster in the country, the federal government should build a buffer dam at Dasin Hausa, which according to him will help to contain the waters released by the Lagdo dam in Cameroun which causes flooding annually and affects many states in the country.
Governor Fintiri said constructing the dam along the river Benue should be the priority of the federal government, adding that it would also boost agricultural activities in the country.
The governor also commended the NEMA for its prompt response to emergency situations in the state, assuring the continued support of Adamawa to the federal government in ensuring safety in the country.
According to the governor, both NEMA and SEMA have both lost items as the result of vandalization by hoodlums in the state, hence the decision to build the warehouse and office for NEMA within the government house.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri also said the state government will build two more warehouses in addition to the one that is currently under construction.
He however noted that the government may consider dropping charges against offenders currently in detention over the recent looting of NEMA warehouses in the state.
Earlier, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Mustafa Habib Ahmed commiserated with the governor and the people of the state over the recent loss of lives in some communities in the state as a result of boat mishaps.
Mustafa Habib Ahmed said going forward, NEMA is planning to partner with State Governments and other national and sub national actors to convene a national workshop on the mitigation of recurring incidences of boat accidents in communities.
The Director General used the opportunity to commend Adamawa State Government for being amongst the first to take disaster risk governance to the grassroots, and for inaugurating Local Emergency Management Committees for all the 21 Local Government Areas in the State, hoping the people of the State have started benefiting from the initiative.
He assured the governor of the continuous support of NEMA and equally appreciated him for his promise to provide the NEMA Yola Operations Office with office and warehouse accommodation right inside the Government House for safety and security.