The impact of natural hazards on lives, properties and environment depends on the country’s level of preparedness, which to a large extent relies on efficient early warning systems which stimulates early action mechanisms.
This was revealed in Abuja on Wednesday by the Director General of NEMA, AVM Muhammad Muhammed.
TheFact Nigeria noted that the meeting was organized to analyze the recent public presentation of the 2021 Seasonal Climate Prediction, (SCP) for Nigeria, by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet).
The SCP is presented annually to stimulate early action against climate risks in the country.
The National Emergency Management Agency said it organized the expert technical meeting to analyse the prediction for disaster risk management in tandem with it’s mandate.
NiMet in its annual Seasonal Rainfall Prediction had predicted normal to above normal rainfall in 2021.
In his welcome address, the Director General said: “This gathering has become more relevant considering our past experiences of unprecedented flood and other disasters that had affected several States of Nigeria and wrecked havoc on communities and drastically affected our collective disaster resilience.
“I am convinced that the articulated early warning messages which will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders here will help to prepare States’ Chief Executives, State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees and others to take necessary proactive actions required to facilitate risk reduction in their communities.”
Muhammed said NEMA will also continue to map vulnerable communities based on the prediction “as indicated by our climate risk monitoring agency to enhance and direct enlightenment campaign in critical states”.
He commended the management and staff of NiMet for their consistency in releasing climate risk information and all NEMA’s stakeholders for their co-operation and collaborations and their performances in the recent past.
He said: “We shall deliberate to define an effective mechanism that will allow stakeholders at Federal, State and Local Governments as well as Communities levels to prepare adequately to mitigate and respond to anticipated climate risk and secondary hazards whenever the need arises.
“We at NEMA, will continue to encourage and promote effective co-operation, collaboration and partnership for efficient management of disaster in Nigeria.”
Speaking earlier, NEMA’s Deputy Director Planning, Research & Forecasting, Mrs Fatima Kashim said the workshop was organized to interpret the various implications of 2021 SCP and make recommendations in order to prepare for, propose mitigative actions and response to the expected impact of the predicted rainfall pattern especially, flooding.
She said: “Various stakeholders with experiences in various fields such as Agriculture, Health, Water Resources and Infrastructure have been brought together to brainstorm so as to come up with a document on Disaster Risk Management implications of the 2021 SCP that can assist in Early Warning Message dissemination on climate induced disaster management activities.
She reiterated the unwavering commitment of NEMA towards continuously building the capacities of both its staff and stakeholders through sensitization, training, simulation exercises and sustained collaboration.
“Our target in this respect is to ensure that emergency situations across the country are handled in line with International best practices”, she said
Dignitaries at the event included the Acting General Manager, National Inland Waterways Authority, Mr. Muazu Danazumi, Alhaji Musa Bungudu, SSA to the President on Disaster Management, Anthony Oko, Corps Marshal, FRSC and Oyegale, J. A. from NiMet.
