Preventing Disaster in Nigeria

By

Sa’a Ovosi

saddybest@yahoo.com

 

 

 

It is interesting to note the recent proactive measures announced by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prevent occurrence of disaster instead of reactionary measures to such crises. Recently the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (Rtd.) called on all disaster management related agencies in the country to be proactive in their approach to curtail disasters in view of the fact that the cost implication of reactionary measures is enormous compared to preventive strategies put in place. He further said that disasters derail socio socio-economic progress and put millions of people into dire poverty or make the poor even poorer. According to him the world is witnessing a rapidly increasing impact of disasters caused by the combination of natural hazards and vulnerability, which constantly threatens people’s lives and livelihoods.

 

Despite the fact that there is an adage which says prevention is better than cure, so many people still fall victims due to their ignorance and negligence. Until recently after some disasters, especially plane crashes that the public become aware of an agency responsible for disaster management in Nigeria.

 

A disaster can be defined as an unexpected event that results to human casualty. Such as accident, flood or fire that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage to properties. It may also be termed as “a serious disruption of the functioning of society causing widespread human, material or environmental loses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources.

 

Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage or loss, and destruction, devastation to life and property. The damage caused by disaster is mostly immensurable and varies with the geographical location, climate and the type of earth surface or degrees of vulnerability. This influences the mental, socioeconomic, political and cultural state of affected area and the people.

 

Experiences have shown that disasters on several occasions completely disrupt the normal day to day life, negatively influence the emergency system while normal needs and process like food shelter, health, etc, are affected and deteriorate depending on its intensity and seveverity of the disaster.

 

Generally there are two types of disaster -Natural and Manmade. Major natural disaster include Flood, Cyclones, Cold waves, Drought, Thunderstorm, Earthquake, Heat waves, Mud slides and Storms among others.

 

On the other hand manmade disaster include fire outbreak, Road Accident, Riots, Food Poisoning, Epidemic, Industrial disaster, crisis, Deforestation, environmental pollution, Building collapse, plane crash, Chemical pollutions and war.

 

Due to the hazard this disaster has caused over the last decade, which is triggered by natural and man induced hazards have claimed more than 600,000 lives and affected more than 2.4 billon people, the majority of them in developing countries like Nigeria. Years of development have gains but also deepen poverty for millions due exposure to avoidable disasters.

 

It may be necessary therefore to say that not all disaster can be avoided but proactive measures can be taken to avert large scale casualties. For instance some disasters were avoidable especially past ethnic and religious clashes that were influenced for selfish interest of individuals or groups and plane crashes as result of technological malfunctions. There is also frequent oil spills in the Niger Delta and increasing threat of desertification which could be addressed through political will of our leaders.

 

I strongly believe that past national disasters could have been avoided if appropriate actions were taken by relevant agencies and well-informed public on proactive approach even when the incidence took place.

 

The new concept of partnering with National Youth Service Corps members and the introduction of Emergency Management Vanguard to promote volunteerism are right steps towards the right direction. The new thinking would only require more training, capacity building for those to be involved.

 

In addition, the agency should relate with other major stakeholders like Road Safety, Fire Service and the police for intensive campaign and sensitization of public through appropriate media of communication on their expectation at any given time when disaster occurs.

 

The citizens need to be aware of disasters that could be avoided by knowledge, skill acquisition and best practices.