To Commemorate this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), which is celebrated every 13th October since 1989, in line with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has called on all tiers of government, private individuals, business organisations and development partners to embrace, support and take practical actions in promoting multi-hazard early warning systems in Nigeria.
Habib elaborated on the stakeholders Consultative Forum, which was held by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, on Monday, to review the Flood Disaster Outlook and the Humanitarian dashboard to identify gaps and review strategies for life saving delivery.
“On our part, as a government agency responsible for the generation and dissemination of early warnings, we will continue to review the progress and trends in strengthening the effectiveness of early warning and early action, review contributions from different approaches as well as the application of the lessons learner through the lenses of the anticipatory actions”. He said.
The DG further lamented the lack of prompt response towards early warning released by the Agency to Nigerians and pleaded that people should heed to early warnings whenever they are alerted by the agency.
He also disclosed the support from President Buhari and hitches along Lokoja.
“The President has graciously approved 12,000 metric tonnes of grains, which is equivalent to 400 trailers and they have been spread across the 36 states.
“We are still working on providing relief materials, food items and none food items to each state of the Federation.
” Despite having hitches along Lokoja, I have alerted the DSS and Inspector General of Police, to help us in clearing the way so relief items can be reached to all relevant states.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk,on her part, compared the devastation caused by this year’s flood to that of 2012.
” As a matter of fact, the scale of devastation caused by flood this year can only be compared to the 2012 flood.
” More than 500 lives have been lost, more than 1.4 million persons affected, about 90,000 homes either partially or completely destroyed and still counting. Thousands of hectares of farmlands have been destroyed, thus worsening fears of a disruption of food supply in Africa’s most populous country
“As we reflect on the present flood situation in Nigeria, let’s consider the focus of the 2022 IDDRR.
“Did we not have enough warnings or was our predictions on Flood Outlook wrong? Did we not act enough to prevent or mitigate what we’re are confronted
with today?” she lamented.
The Minister who was represented by Alhaji Ali Grema, said there was a need not to apportion blames but acknowledge the fact that enough warnings were given and therefore she admonished all communities to take climate predictions and flood outlook warnings seriously as flood can’t be completely eliminated but people can be kept safe when there is a collective responsibility .
Director General, FCT Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), Abbas Idris, said no one is to be blamed but early warning is an issue of education and enlightenment.
“Nigeria is just coming up to join the league of nations whereby early warning really works well. The issue we are having in Nigeria is that when you are giving early warning to the residents or to the populace, they seem to know much more than you, because we believe in some cultural and religious aspects that doesn’t allow us to take early warning. As I always say, early warning comes from learned people and learning is from God, knowledge is from God. So therefore we should adhere strictly and imbibe the culture of accepting the Early warning.
‘If for instance you are going this way and we told you there is an accident that blocked the way, you will try to deviate from going there. So why is it that when the learned people say it’s going to rain and it is going to cause flooding and they need you to evacuate, you will now say you will not evacuate? So you can see there is contradiction in our beliefs and cultures, and unless we change this we cannot get it right”, he said.
He also said that the agency has been authorized to remove illegal structures obstructing free flow of water.
“Like I told you, we have the political will to remove structures that are obstructing free flow of water. If you know any, no matter how big the estate is let us know, help us and share information with us and we will definitely go and remove it.
“We are educating the public and we are also doing the needful. If we remove your structure we can also charge you for that and then prosecute you. So the law is there and we are not afraid to enforce the law for the safety of lives and the properties of the FCT Residents.
