National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, has enjoined state governments in Nigeria to make adequate budgetary provision for disaster handling in their annual budget proposal.
The Agency was particularly concerned about the South-east saying that strengthening and proper funding of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) would go a long way in reducing pressure and over dependency on NEMA.
Its South-east zonal coordinator, Dr. Bandele, Abdulahi Onimode, made call on Tuesday while briefing journalists on activities of the agency within the zone in 2013, and its programmes for 2014.
He said it was time government, at all levels, began to see disaster as a security issue and not a mere environmental problem, adding that the federal government alone “does not have the capacity to shoulder disaster problems and challenges due to its capital intensive nature.”
He said: “Disaster management, I must tell you, is quite enormous, multi- sectoral, and capital intensive across the globe, including Nigeria, and that is why the local and state governments must always show serious commitment on the issue.”
Onimode also advocated for more synergy between the agency and other key stakeholders in disaster handling, especially security agencies.
He noted that 2013 was a hectic year for the agency, following the near overwhelming flood disaster challenge that befell parts of the country, including states within the South-east zone, such as Anambra.
