Accidents
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, May 8, 2018 (NAN) The Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), says it recorded 196 fire incidences, and 56 road accidents in the state in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mrs Nkechi Eneh, disclosed this in Enugu on Tuesday at a workshop to review the state’s Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Eneh also said that 20 fatalities were recorded in the 56 accidents within the period.
She said that the total number of fire calls received in 2017 stood at 279, with 238 road accidents recorded within the period, while 67 lives were lost in the process.
“Globally, there is a steady increase in the number and magnitude of emergencies and disasters which continually challenge the adequacy and efficacy of existing management and response capacities.
“Enugu State has witnessed an increase in the number of natural and man-induced disaster incidents.
“In 2017, the state recorded a total of 279 fire calls, and 238 road accidents involving 450 vehicles, while from January 2018 till date, we have recorded a total of 196 fire calls and 56 road accidents involving 103 vehicles.
“Last month, we experienced unprecedented rainstorms that ravaged communities in the state,” she said.
Eneh said that the workshop was another milestone in the search for recipes toward a resilient disaster-free society, adding that preparedness was a component in disaster management.
The executive secretary said that emergency response anywhere in the world was dependent on the quality of preparedness.
“However, it remains a challenge within the industry, as often, emergency managers resort to a reactive approach to disasters on account of poor preparedness which results to poor recovery.
“The moment of calm and lull in disaster activity is the ideal time for preparedness. Sadly, we often miss this opportunity,’’ she said.
She said it was the duty of the agency to ensure that the state was effectively positioned to confront disasters.
“In the past, the practice has always been for the agency to develop its plan and hold it as a secret document for people not to see it.
“However, experience has shown that response is everybody’s business. As a result, it has become pertinent for every partner to know what is in his plan to be able to respond,” she said.
She said that the workshop was organised to carry out joint training of emergency responders, ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities before, during and after response as well as conduct a joint and update of the State Emergency Preparedness Plan.
“Let me restate our confidence in the ability of this body to evolve a plan document that will strengthen our disaster management efforts,’’ Eneh said.
The Lead Consultant of the workshop, Mr Olusoji Adeniyi, said it was sad that disaster management plans were often times not followed by commensurate action.
Adeniyi, while delivering a paper entitled “The Humanitarian Imperatives: Challenges of Effective Humanitarian Response’, said that disaster management was a collective responsibility.
“Most of the time, we talk about disaster management but do not put it into action.
“The best thing to be done is to protect the rights of the affected population during a disaster. Only then can we say we are disaster ready,” he said.
According to Adeniyi, SEMA cannot do it alone, as all stakeholders need to work together.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was attended by stakeholders in disaster management, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and the Fire Service.
Others were the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, and National Emergency Management Agency, among others. (NAN)
EOA/OFN/EEE
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ese E. Ekama