Nigerian Red Cross Society has said it is committed to sensitising the public on the need to embrace disaster reduction risk management in the state.
The Niger State Branch Secretary of Red Cross, Mr. Gideon Adamu Paiko, stated this while speaking to our staff reporter shortly after a road work from Mobil Roundabout to Obasanjo Shopping Complex to mark this year's World International Disaster Reduction Day in Minna.
He said people should cultivate the habit of disaster reduction in their communities, especially those in riverine areas.
Mr. Gideon Adamu said the theme for this year's International Day for Disaster Reduction, "Fighting in Equality for a Resilience Future", was apt considering its importance to safe guard the lives and property of the people.
The state branch secretary said natural disasters can be avoided only if people in the state adopt some guiding principles of disaster reduction and management.
He also appealed to people who always use canoes in their day-to-day activities to use life jackets while boarding a canoe.
Mr. Adamu Paiko said the day was being celebrated in Niger State by the Red Cross in collaboration with NEMA and the Federal Fire Service for the much-needed goal to be achieved.
Also in her brief remarks, the Head of Operations Minna office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Zainab Suleman Saidu, said NEMA, as a strong partner to the Nigerian Red Cross, decided to celebrate the day together because of the importance it attached to the day.
She advised the people of the state, with particular reference to the riverine communities, to move far away from river banks to avoid unnecessary flooding.
According to Hajiya Zainab Suleman, floods and other natural disasters were claiming many lives and property from the people, hence the need for them to always take precautionary measures to mitigate them.
Also in his short address, the Assistant Controller General of the Federal Fire Service in charge of Zone G and the FCT, Abuja, Ahmed Garba Karaye, maintained that Redcross has been doing its best in terms of managing disaster situations as well as providing relief materials to victims, hence the need for the organisation to partner with Redcross in the state for optimal performance.