DISASTERS: Why A More Strengthened NEMA Matters To Nigeria
By: Musa Abubakar
As the foremost agency and first responder in times of disaster, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is always the first to come into the picture whenever a disaster strikes.
Its operations being multi-faceted involve numerous inter-agency collaborations with dozens of others to complement each other in responding to disasters and mitigating their effects on the victims and the nation.
Running a complex organisation like NEMA needs excellent leadership and competence to streamline the various activities with other stakeholders in line with the Agency’s mandate.
NEMA was established through Act 12 in 1999 as amended by Act 50 of 1999, to manage disasters in Nigeria, and since inception, the agency has been executing its mandate by tackling disaster-related issues across the country.
The Director General (DG) of the Agency, Zubaida Umar, despite being a woman has shown a level of competence deserving of the head of an important agency like NEMA.
With what Nigerians have seen in terms of NEMA’s response to disasters despite all the challenges, gave credence to the popular maxim that ‘What a Man Can Do, A Woman Can Do Better’.
However, not all women can do what a man can do, because the ‘Woman’ being referred to in this instance is a ‘Determined Woman and an extraordinary, competent woman like the DG of NEMA, an Amazon blazing a new trail in disaster management.
A keen follower of the National Assembly’s proceedings will see the extent of NEMA’s responsibilities by the calls for its interventions through motions moved by members of the Senate and the House of Representatives as both natural and many disasters affect almost all parts of the country in the forms of insurgency, banditry, fire disasters, boat mishaps and others.
One needs not to be told that the recent devastating flooding in Nigeria-from Borno to Zaria, Zamfara to Kano, Jigawa to Yobe just like it occurs year in and year out keeps NEMA as the lead agency on its toes as it struggles alongside other response agencies and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to keep head above water and attend to the needs of Nigerians affected.
No wonder in one of her numerous moves to encourage her staff to brace up for the challenges ahead, the DG said at one of the workshops held by NEMA that, they have to align with the vision to develop the 2023-2030 National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy and Action Plan for Nigeria.
She was quoted saying, “The need for the development of this Plan arises from the findings of the assessment conducted by the Overseas Development Institute on behalf of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
“The assessment was conducted to ascertain the status of DRR for evaluation of the implementation of Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 in seven selected countries of the Sahel region. The countries include Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.
“A review of NEMA existing plans and frameworks documents has indicated the urgent need to produce a more comprehensive action plan for disaster risk management in Nigeria in consideration of new and emerging hazards in the country.
“Such a plan is to align with the Sendai Framework and the African Program of Action (PoA) to increase disaster resilience and drive sustainable development.
“It is on record that the current escalation of disaster events in the form of conflicts, banditry, and annual floods coupled with extreme weather events have triggered the compelling desire to develop the DRR Strategy and Action Plan for Nigeria”.
She emphasised that disaster risks in contemporary times are based on preparedness, prevention, mitigation, risk reduction, and adaptation.
She added, “This cannot be realized in our country without the full deployment strategic action plan that assigns roles and responsibilities to implement MDAs and other relevant stakeholders”.
What else does one need to see the readiness of the head of the nation’s disaster response agency to address the challenges facing or about to face the country based on predictable parameters? What remains now is the political will to provide all the needed support and resources to NEMA to execute its mandate and save the nation from the fallout of disasters, both natural and man-made.
This brings us to the issue at hand. We have seen how the Maiduguri flood caught the nation unawares or after deliberate negligence by authorities that would have helped avert the tragedy, but we are now left to respond to the consequences of their actions and inactions. The rest is now a sad reality that we have lost billions in goods and properties while precious lives were also lost.
It is ironic that, rather than helping avert disasters as envisaged in NEMA’s mandate, the agency and others were brought only almost every time after we had a misfortune that would have been averted.
The only way out is to now have a revitalized NEMA, especially with the current leadership under the Amazon, the current DG who has the will to serve.
The moribund Ambulance services initiated by the former DG Sani Sidi have to be revived to serve the nation as they have been abandoned and left idle. People passing along the Kubwa Expressway and Airport Road can attest to it.
Another thing of great concern is the taking over of NEMA’s Air assets by the Nigerian Air Force which has killed the Air Ambulance service by the agency in times of extreme need to evaluate victims of disasters from far places or difficult terrains as obtained in other climes.
The revival of these services is something that needs to be urgently done with utmost dispatch for the agency to strengthen its disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts as we have witnessed in its numerous impactful interventions to address various crises and disasters.
NEMA has provided timely assistance to communities affected by natural disasters such as floods, building collapses, boat mishaps, terrorist attacks, accidents, national tragedies, and others in recent times.
The agency has also been coordinating relief efforts, distributing food, water, and essential supplies to those in need, and working in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive response to emergencies.
Additionally, NEMA has focused on building resilience within communities by providing training on disaster risk reduction, conducting simulation exercises, and developing early warning systems.
These initiatives aim to empower individuals and communities to better prepare for and respond to disasters effectively.
Under the current leadership, NEMA has demonstrated a commitment to serving the people and protecting lives and property in times of crisis.
The interventions by the agency have been instrumental in mitigating the impact of disasters and fostering a culture of preparedness in the nation.
Although disasters cannot be completely eradicated as long as the world exists, it’s effects can be mitigated through a comprehensive DRR as emphasized and a good hand to steer the coordination of all efforts towards that direction.
Now that we have an Amazon at the helm of affairs, men should provide the political will to channel enough resources and backing to help her succeed.
That is what is needed in the Nation now as we extend our sympathy to the people of Borno State, Maiduguri in particular, and other parts of the state as well as all other Nigerians affected by disaster in all parts of the country.
Musa Abubakar writes from Gombe and can be reached via: musabubakarr@gmail.com.
