Posted by Chinenye on Tue 16th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
Market traders in Owerri were met with renewed warnings as emergency officials stepped up campaigns against improper waste disposal amid rising flood concerns in Imo State.
(NEMA. Photo Credit: Punch News)
To prevent flooding and environmental risks, the National Emergency Management Agency's Imo State office started raising awareness in markets on Tuesday.
Walson Ibarakumo, the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, informed vendors at the Relief Market in Owerri that the organization has started raising awareness in marketplaces about the risks associated with careless waste disposal.
Ibarakumo stated that collected trash obstructs drainage, which results in flooding, pointing out that habits were the cause of the flooding in Owerri.
"We have come to urge you to always dispose of your refuse properly in order to prevent blocked drainage," he stated. In the long run, you hurt yourself when you dump trash into gutters during a downpour.
"Flooding occurs when drainage is blocked. Additionally, the authorities will force a closure if any area of the market is flooded. Ibarakumo stated, "You see, you have a responsibility to make sure that you dispose of refuse carefully and properly, too."
Nnamdi Igwe, NEMA Head of Operations for Imo and Abia States, stated that Imo State was at risk of flooding due to meteorological forecasts and predictions.
"It's not safe for you to dispose of refuse anyhow, with the torrential winds and rainfall patterns," Igwe stated. To prevent floods, please dispose of them properly.
Polluted markets pose health risks and have the potential to start an epidemic. Please dispose of your waste responsibly and keep the market safe.
"It is less expensive to be healthy than to treat preventable issues like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and the like, so please take your health seriously," Igwe stated.
The vendors who talked bemoaned the lack of trash cans in the market to handle the amount of trash that had accumulated.
In order to instill in traders the need of maintaining a clean environment and correctly disposing of waste, Mrs. Cecilia Okechukwu advocated for ongoing awareness.
To lessen the buildup of trash, other vendors urged representatives of the Eastern Waste Management Agency (EWAMAC) to place trash cans throughout the market.
Officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Federal Fire Service, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Imo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), journalists, and other organizations attended the demonstration.