Disaster Risk Reduction: Reps, NEMA urges focus on preparedness
NAN-H-87
Preparedness
By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Feb. 21, 2017 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Members of the House of Representatives said on Tuesday that focus on preparedness against disaster was key to Disaster Risk Reduction in the country.
They made the call in Abuja during the 2017 meeting of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Mr Ali Isa, Deputy Chairman House Committee on Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, said that adequate preparation against disaster could help to reduce substantially loss of lives and property in the event of disasters.
He said it was important for stakeholders and government at all levels to promote a culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction, which includes disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
Isa explained that the nation cannot achieve Disaster Risk Reduction without preparedness as a fundamental Disaster Risk Management System.
He said that achieving this required interaction between institutions, financial mechanisms, regulations and policies, saying that government agencies must be active participants for Disaster Risk Management to succeed.
According to him, preparing against disaster can help save the nation from many occurrences in the event of disasters like in loss of lives, economic loss, environmental degradation, and epidemic, among others.
He made reference to Priority 4 of the Sendai Framework for DRR, which states that “Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for effective response’’.
Isa said the House of Reps has been canvassing for preparedness against disasters rather than waiting for them to occur before managing them because disaster was everyone’s business.
Isa said the National Assembly will continue to support measures that would alleviate the sufferings of the people and give NEMA the necessary support in achieving its mandates
Earlier, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, Director-General, NEMA, said the National platform for DRR reflects the commitment of government to implement national and local disaster risk reduction activities while looking up to international direction.
He said that one of the aims of this year’s meeting was to strategise on enhancing coordination, increasing awareness and mobilizing commitments to disaster risk reduction.
“The meeting would create an avenue to present the outcomes of the just concluded Regional Platform held in Mauritius and also commence preparation for Global Platform on DRR to be held in Cancun, Mexico.
“Stakeholders will also design plans for the implementation of the Sendai Framework of Action (SFA 2015-2030).
“I expect that at the end of the meeting the noble objectives for setting the platform would be met as we look forward to modalities of strengthening this National Platform,’’ Sani-Sidi said.
He said Nigeria like every other country in the continent had witnessed continuous rise in both natural and human disasters, recounting the 2012 flood disaster and the current North East crises.
The director-general explained that to mitigate the effect of such disasters there is need to accelerate momentum on reducing disaster risk and building the resilience of communities at risk.
He appreciated the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN system for its continuous support in fostering the agency’s mandates.
Mr Sani Zorro, Chairman, House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees called for solidarity and synergy of all stakeholders to ensure disaster reduction in the country.
He said the House of Reps was ready to expand its scope of collaboration to help reduce the risk and general challenges in the humanitarian sector.
Mr Moses Beckley, Director-General of the National Hydrological Service Agency, said the agency’s came up with an annual forecast of possible natural disaster in the year to contribute to disaster reduction.
He said this would enhance preparedness of NEMA and relevant stakeholders and allow them put in place measures to prevent or mitigate the occurrence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2013) was adopted by UN member states in March 2015.
NAN also reports that the adoption was during World Conference on DRR in Sendai, Japan to reducing disaster at all levels. (NAN)
LIZ/GOM/AFA
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Felix Ajide