Experts in disaster management have called for the implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction strategy, saying that it would help to reduce and prevent further disasters in the country.
Speaking Monday in Abuja at a workshop on ‘National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030’, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar said there was a review of NEMAs existing plans and frameworks documents, which has indicated the urgent need to produce a more comprehensive action plan for disaster risk management in Nigeria in consideration of new and emerging hazards in the country.
According to her, such plans were to align with the Sendai Framework and the African Program of Action (PoA) to increase disaster resilience and drive sustainable development.
She notes that it had been on record that the current escalation of disaster events in form of conflicts, banditry and annual floods coupled with extreme weather events have triggered the compelling desire to develop the DRR Strategy and Action Plan for Nigeria.
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Umar explained that the need for the development of the plan arises from the findings of the assessment conducted by Overseas Development Institute on behalf of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
On his part, Director of Weather Forecasting Services, Nigerians Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Prof. Vincent Weli insisted that the document would go a long way to unravel areas that would be at risk as well as actions to be taken by stakeholders to ensure that casualties were not recorded.
He disclosed that experts have done well by identifying the problems and solutions to the issues of disasters hence, called for the implementation of the document.
“Early warnings are no longer the issues because we have always issued them, but are the major stakeholders implementing it?” he queried.
Speaking at the event, Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Mohammed, represented by the Director of Engineering Hydrology Department, Mrs. Fashe Adam called for the speedy implementation of the document as it would serve as a guide for all stakeholders.
According to him, climate change was responsible for the unpredicted weather-related disasters recorded in recent times.
On his part, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)Project Consultant on the strategy, Prof. Obafemi Andrew called for full implementation and operationalisation of the strategy as it would take Nigeria very far.
He said if the strategy was implemented, Nigeria would have a sustainable document and actionable operations that will help reduce risk.
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