Disaster Management: Oyo State calls for synergy among Stakeholders

The Oyo State Government has called on all stakeholders involved in emergency and disaster management to ensure synergy to achieve better results.

The Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, said this while disclosing the plans of Governor Seyi Makinde to activate dynamic innovations and technologically-driven strategies in the management of emergencies in the state.

Lawal, represented by the Executive Assistant (Administration) to Governor Seyi Makinde, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe, spoke, on Wednesday, while delivering an address during the quarterly Stakeholders Platform on Emergency Management, organised by the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA).

The Deputy Governor, who is also the Chairman of OYSEMA, said the state was endowed with resourceful human capital, formidable enough to respond and pull the strings of disaster risk reduction appropriately, and could be deployed in case of any emergency or disaster, noting that if result must be achieved, stakeholders and emergency workers must learn to work together as a team.

“I am sure, without any iota of doubt, that the platform can only achieve more with a very strong synergy of purpose. No man is an island as far as disaster risk management is concerned. 

 “Your cooperation and collaboration is highly essential in the onerous task of making the state less vulnerable to disaster events. Consequently, it is very imperative to plan and work together at all levels (strategic, tactical and operational).”

He affirmed that the state government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, was poised to activate strategies into the management of emergencies in the state, which he said would take the form of policies and programmes under the magic wand of Omi-Titun 2. 0, positioned to take the state to an enviable height.

Lawal stated: “Today’s meeting will be very historic as another giants stride in the annals of OYSEMA and the Oyo State Government at large. This assertion is premised upon our determination and collective responsibilities to brainstorm on prospects and challenges in the wheel of our progress to building a resilient state.”

Noting that the government was not oblivious of the vulnerability of the state to disasters such as flooding, rainstorms and fire, among others, the deputy governor disclosed that the state government had been proactively engaging in mitigation measures both structurally and non-structurally to strengthen its preparedness against such hydro-meteorological hazards.

Speaking earlier, the OYSEMA Administrative Secretary, Mrs Ojuolape Busari, commended the deputy governor as well as the other stakeholders, for the effort at seeing to the prompt management of disaster and the likes in the state.

She said: “The recent disaster events in the state and across the globe call for concerted efforts for all and sundry. The meeting provides us with ample opportunity to discuss emergency and emerging issues affecting the state. Without mincing words, this singular gathering will enhance the resilience capacity of the state towards effective disaster risk management.”

 She assured them that the agency, saddled with the mandate of coordinating emergencies, would not rest on its oars to promote resilience capacity of the state towards effective disaster risk management.

Other stakeholders who spoke at the event also called for better understanding and collaboration among emergency workers, especially security operatives, when the need arises.

PIAK