FIC Report (Imo State) – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Imo State Office, has intensified efforts to promote environmental safety and flood prevention through a sensitization rally held at Relief Market in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The awareness campaign united officials of the Imo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Federal Fire Service, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), media practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders committed to disaster risk reduction and environmental management.
While addressing traders and residents during the exercise, the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Mr. Walson Ibarakumo, urged members of the public to desist from indiscriminate disposal of refuse, warning that such practices contribute majorly to flooding and other environmental hazards.
He explained that the sensitization campaign was organised to educate people, particularly market operators, on the dangers associated with improper waste management and to encourage responsible environmental practices.
Mr. Ibarakumo went further to state that heaps of refuse often find their way into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water during rainfall which result in the likelihood of flooding, adding that many flood incidents experienced in Owerri and other urban centres are caused not only by heavy rainfalls but also by human activities that block drainage systems.
In his words ,”We have come to appeal to traders and residents to always dispose of their waste properly. Refuse dumped indiscriminately eventually ends up in gutters and drainage channels, especially during rainfall, creating problems that affect everyone”.
According to him, blocked drainages often lead to flooding which disrupt business activities and threaten public safety. He therefore warned that government authorities may be compelled to temporarily shut down affected sections of markets if flooding becomes severe.
Also speaking during the sensitization exercise, the Head of Operations of NEMA for Imo and Abia States, Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, revealed that recent weather forecasts and flood predictions have identified Imo State as one of the areas vulnerable to flooding.
He also cautioned traders against indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly during the rainy season, noting that the combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds could worsen environmental challenges if preventive measures are ignored.
Mr. Igwe reiterated that poor sanitation and environmental pollution in markets could lead to serious health risks, including outbreaks of communicable diseases. He then encouraged traders and residents to adopt proper hygiene practices and maintain cleaner surroundings.
The NEMA Head of Operations for Imo and Abia states urged traders to avoid dumping refuse on roads, drainage channels and waterways, stressing that collective efforts towards environmental cleanliness would yield positive and lasting results for the community.
Mr. Igwe further appealed to members of the public to prioritize their health by preventing diseases associated with poor sanitation.
“It is far cheaper and easier to prevent illnesses than to treat them. Conditions such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever and other sanitation-related diseases can be avoided when people maintain clean environments and observe proper waste disposal practices,” he stated.
Many traders who participated in the exercise expressed appreciation for the awareness campaign but highlighted challenges affecting proper waste management within the market.
They complained about the inadequate number of waste bins available for use, noting that the existing facilities are insufficient to accommodate the volume of waste generated daily by traders and customers.
One of the traders,
Mrs. Cecilia Okechukwu, called for continuous public enlightenment programmes to reinforce the importance of environmental cleanliness among market users, noting that regular sensitization would help change attitudes and encourage greater compliance within sanitation guidelines.
The traders also appealed to the Eastern Waste Management Agency (EWAMAC) to provide additional waste bins and improve waste collection services within the market to reduce the accumulation of refuse and promote a cleaner and healthier trading environment.
The sensitization rally forms part of NEMA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, reduce flood risks and encourage environmental responsibility among communities across the South-East region.
AKUSHIE, CHIOMA MARK HELEN.
HOC. FIC., OWERRI.
16/ 06/2026
