The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and other stakeholders have brainstormed on the development of National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy 2024-2030 and Action Plan 2024-2027.
Speaking during a stakeholders consultative workshop in Abuja, Wednesday, the Director General of NEMA, AVM Mustapha Habib Ahmed (rtd), said the plan is very critical in enabling Nigeria to align with and drive the targets of the Sendai Framework and the African Program of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction.
He said: “The need for the development of this Plan arises from the outcomes of the assessment conducted by Overseas Development Institute on behalf of the United Nations Development Program on the Sahel Resilience Program.
“The assessment was aimed at ascertaining the status of Disaster Risk Reduction in the evaluation of the implementation of Sendai Framework 2015-2030 in the seven West African Sahel countries of Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
“Findings in the assessment report, indicate that in furtherance to the plans and frameworks so far produced by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), it is necessary to develop comprehensive document for Disaster Risk Management for Nigeria. This plan is also very critical in enabling Nigeria to align with and drive the targets of the Sendai Framework and the African Program of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction.
“Furthermore, the recent escalation and growing frequency and severity of disasters in form of banditry, boat mishaps, building collapse, urban and market fires coupled with hydro-meteorological hazards powered by climate change and climate variability have ignited the compelling desire to develop the Nigeria Disaster Risk Management Plan.
“The compelling demand has therefore led to the commencement of discussions and partnership between NEMA and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on the actualization of the very important Plan.
“Today’s event falls under the Sahel Resilience Project; titled “Strengthening Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation for Resilience in the Sahel Region: Fostering Risk-informed Solutions for Sustainable Development’’.
“The project covers the seven countries of the Sahel Region earlier mentioned. The project is also within the context of multi-partnership implementation led by the UNDP in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), ECOWAS, UN Women, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, AGHRYMET and other regional organizations.
“There is no doubt that working together with multiple development actors under the Sahel Resilience Project will help the countries of the region to collectively improve their resilience in consideration of trans-boundary nature of disaster events. For us in Nigeria, the Sahel Resilience Project is expected to support the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government especially in the areas of poverty eradication, food security and inclusivity.
“The period of this workshop has coincided with the ongoing evaluation of 2023 flood season by NEMA and efforts to address recurring boat mishap, building collapse, urban and market fires which have become dominant in Nigeria’s disaster risk profile.
“Just yesterday, I returned from a consultation visit to the Governors of Adamawa and Taraba States on exploring ways of reducing the rate of occurrence of boat accidents that have resulted in the loss of several lives during the year in riparian communities along Rivers Benue and Niger.
“Management of disaster risks in contemporary time is anchored on preparedness, mitigation, risk reduction and adaptation. This can only be realized with the full deployment of a strategic action plan that clearly assigns roles and responsibilities to implementing Federal Government MDAs and other relevant stakeholders.
“Consequently, I urge you, our esteemed stakeholders, to accord this workshop the very serious attention it deserves. We have been working together over the years, let us sustain the momentum to develop a comprehensive document for disaster risk management in Nigeria, that will go beyond 2030, the Sendai Framework regime.”
Also speaking, the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project Manager in Nigeria, Dr Reshmi Theckethil, said that disaster issues have led to increase in poverty in Nigeria, hence the need for collaboration in disaster mitigation.
She said: “Today marks the beginning of an important journey —the launch of the development of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2024-2030) and its Phase I Action Plan (2024-2026) for Nigeria.
“Today, almost half of Nigeria’s population, or 91 million people, face multidimensional poverty. Communities are being impacted by environmental and health hazards like droughts, floods, epidemics, and man-made disasters such as oil spills and terrorism. Challenges from rapid population growth, urbanization, and socio-political issues often contribute to conflicts, violence, and increased insecurity.
“Throughout the years, Nigeria has experienced 440 disasters, with several catastrophic floods, leading to tragic loss of lives and economic loss. These disasters not only damage property, but disrupt crucial infrastructure, and increase the risk of diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and malaria. The financial aftermath of floods in 2012 and 2022 is staggering, amounting to billions of dollars, affecting some 12 million people.
“It is clear that sound disaster risk management at all levels_ from national to local _ is key to building the resilience of communities and economies to these shocks. We need organizational culture change, political commitment, motivation, and financial backing. A strategic guidance framework, sectoral and intersectoral coordination, and participation from all actors are essential.
“The new disaster risk reduction strategy for Nigeria must address priorities such as understanding disaster risk, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, and enhancing preparedness. It should promote policy coherence related to sustainable development, poverty eradication and climate change, aligning with the sustainable development goals and the Paris Agreement.
“A successful disaster risk reduction strategy — with clear goals, targets, indicators, and timeframes — will allow the government and ail stakeholders to articulate their intentions and actions in a coherent and coordinated manner to protect the population against current and future disaster risks.”
