Sokoto — Following alert and floods in parts of the country, traditional rulers have been called upon to be proactive in their respective localities. Head of Planning, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) North-west, Zainab Ahmad, who represented the zonal coordinator of the agency in the region made the call at a workshop on "Preparedness and Response to Disaster" in Sokoto. She urged the traditional rulers to identify the vulnerable areas early and report to the appropriate authorities.

"When traditional rulers speak to the people, they listen. So we called them here for an interaction on disaster risk reduction strategies," she said.

She stressed the agency's determination to strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response.

"The aims of such efforts are among others to ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation, identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning", she said.

Also speaking, the Director General, Sokoto Emergency Relief Agency, Hassan Muhammad Maccido, said all hands must be on deck to address disaster in the country.

He said it was necessary to educate the people on the dangers associated with building houses along streams and river banks, as well as other preventive measures.

"Naturally, the best way to get across to the common man is through the traditional institution because of its natural respect and direct link between the common man and the government .It is in view of that that NEMA decided to invite our respected traditional rulers for a meeting," he said.