|
Economic Confidential,
January, 2009
COMMUNIQUÉ
COMMUNIQUÉ
ISSUED AT THE END OF A SENSITISATION WORKSHOP ON
DISASTER MANAGEMENT HELD
AT ASAA PYRAMID HOTEL,
KADUNA FROM 16TH-
18TH DECEMBER, 2008
Introduction:
A Three-Day Sensitisation
Workshop on Disaster Management organized by National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with ASCON with the Theme
“Mainstreaming Disaster Management into National Development” held
at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna from 16th to 18th December,
2008. Resource Persons and Participants were drawn from various
sectors of the economy including top public officers, Para-military,
Academics and representatives of the media.
The Keynote Address was
delivered by the Director General of National Emergency Management
Agency, AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (Rtd.) who was represented by the
Director of Training, Dr. Zanna Muhammad. The Director General in
his address stated that disasters had derailed socio-economic
progress and had put millions of people into abject poverty and made
the poor even poorer. According to him “the world is witnessing an
increasing impact of disasters caused by the combination of natural
and man-made hazards , which constantly threatens people’s lives and
means of livelihood.” He added that disaster management requires not
only emergency reliefs but political and legal commitment, public
understanding, scientific knowledge, careful development planning,
responsible enforcement of policies which should be responsive and
proactive for the effective management of any emergency.
OBSERVATIONS
After exhaustive
discussions of each presentation followed by questions and answers
session, participants observed the following:
v
Disasters, either natural or
human-induced bring distortion into the development landscape. The
occurrence of disasters and emergencies in Nigeria like in most
countries, have been on the increase in recent times, particularly
due to communal conflicts, mechanical and technological
malfunctions.
v
Natural resources which could be
utilized for the benefits of human and physical development are
either lost or misused while budgetary provisions and other
resources that could be utilized for the benefits of human and
physical development are deployed to address avoidable disaster due
to communal clashes and epidemics.
v
The number and gravity of disasters
are on the increase locally and globally as traditional strategies
for disaster management through relief measures have been
ineffective because they are largely reactive instead of being
proactive in reducing the risk.
v
Disasters that were not properly
managed have contributed significantly to loss of skilled personnel,
diversion of scarce resources, destruction of infrastructure,
negative investment climate and political destabilization.
v
The public, most especially the
citizenry are not adequately informed and educated by the media and
relevant information organs of government on potential areas of
disasters, precautionary measures and expectations in case of
disasters.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the above
observations, the following recommendations were made:
v
NEMA and other stakeholders in
disaster management in the country should adopt new paradigm towards
risk reduction aimed at pre-empting disaster and putting in place
rehabilitation process that could rebuild resilience for future
disaster.
v
Appropriate public policies for
disaster management should be coherent, trackable, transparent and
implementable. Therefore policy makers should focus on concepts and
practices that promote social development, equity, economic growth
and environmental quality to minimize the impacts of hazards, reduce
vulnerability and enhance coping and adaptive capacity.
v
NEMA should work in synergy with
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations
(CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Private Sector
Organizations (PSOs) and other stakeholders to reduce risks or
mitigate the impacts and should be able to pre-empt devastating
disasters in the country.
v
As a coordinating agency for
disaster management in Nigeria, NEMA should further strengthen the
relationships with other stakeholders in disaster management such as
the Armed Forces, Police, FRSC, NSCDC, Fire Services, environmental
health officers through collaborative engagement and capacity
building programmes.
v
In view of the fact that the media
have active roles to play in creating public awareness on early
warnings and proactive approach to curtail disaster, they should be
involved in processes and programmes to achieve maximum results.
v
Funding as a major source of meeting
target objectives and goals should be adequately budgeted for by the
government and donor agencies and be made available for disaster
management.
v
The guiding principles for Disaster
Risk Reduction strategies in Nigeria should be initiated and
implemented, especially in the areas of poverty reduction, disaster
prevention, capacity building of communities, partnership with the
other tiers of government, education to increase public awareness
and establishment of information networks.
v
The enabling legislation for
disaster risk management in Nigeria, such as the NEMA establishment
Act should be amended to strengthen coordination of disaster
management in order to be more efficient and effective.
v
States and Local Government Councils
across the country should establish through enabling legislation,
adequate and functional emergency outfits (e.g. sanitary inspectors)
to address the humanitarian and sanitary needs of their people.
v
There is a need for Presidential
directive to call out the Armed Forces at the Command or Unit Level
for adequate and prompt response to disasters
v
Provision of incentives to Disaster
Reactive Units to enhance their state of readiness at all times
v
Training and
Retraining of emergency responders, especially simulation exercises
should be organized by NEMA on regular basis to enhance their level
of preparedness.
v
The Media and
Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM) which is a
composition of relevant agencies should be adequately funded to
address emergency and where necessary organize monthly Press
Conference to update Nigerians on development and strategies being
deployed in disaster risk reduction.
v
The media should
be carried along, especially the specialized correspondents covering
emergency and disaster issues to keep them updated on preventive and
early warning strategies. Establishment of a forum of Emergency
correspondents and writers can be desirous, like other beat
associations, in providing adequate, accurate and timely information
to the public.
v
In-house
publications of NEMA should accommodate contribution from
stakeholders, including the media
Conclusion
While commending the
organizers of the Sensitization Workshop, Participants urged
National Emergency Management Agency to continuously organize and
funds similar forums for constructive dialogue on regular basis.
Signed:
Engr. E. O Machie-
Federal Fire Service Ayodele Ajadi -
Federal Road Safety Commission
Emmanuel Okeh-
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Umar Kari-
University of Abuja
Patsy Eneze
- Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Sanya
Adejokun - Compass Newspaper
Y. A. Shuaib
- National Emergency management Agency
|
