Stakeholders evaluate Nigeria’s disaster risk policies to enhance community resilience

Stakeholders in the environment sector are reviewing Nigeria’s current disaster risk policies in order to enhance community resilience.

The stakeholders converged on Abuja at the Policy Review Workshop on Nigeria’s National Disaster Risk Management Plan.

Mr Abuh Steven, the National Network Coordinator, Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), spoke at the workshop on Wednesday.

He said the event was aimed at reviewing Nigeria’s current disaster risk management policies.

Steven, who was represented by Mr Paul Joseph, Programme Officer, CSDevNet, said that the review identified gaps and foster collaboration to enhance community resilience.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration to address climate-induced disasters which were on the increase due to climate change and rapid urbanisation.

Steven urged stakeholders to empower themselves with knowledge and tools for disaster preparedness, response and recovery to effectively respond to disasters.

Dr Abiola Awe, Director of Climate Change Ministry of Environment, said that the unit had been engaging in disaster risk management issues, monitoring and early preparedness to disasters.

Awe, who was represented by Mrs Yemi Bakare, Desk Officer, Risk Disaster Management, assured that the challenges of farming in some parts of the country would also be tackled to ensure food security in the country.

Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director –General, National Emergency Management Agency, said that climate resilience in Nigeria required a multifaceted approach disaster risk management.

Umar, who was represented by Mr Tony Ephraim, Head, Monitoring, Evaluation, NEMA, said that by prioritizing disaster risk management, the country could safeguard its communities.

Mr Arome Agenyi, Executive Director, Centre for Learning and Development (CLD), said that the policy document was for effective disaster management in Nigeria.

Agenyi, who was represented by Dr Blessing Atunbi-Agboli, Research Fellow, CLD, said that Civil Society Organisations would develop their institutional capacity to disaster risk management as well as establishing disaster management volunteers.

He, however, expressed worries that the problem of disaster management response initiative in the country was worst at the local government level.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi