Flood: Kogi lacks equipment, skills to prevent disaster- Stakeholders

Critical stakeholders in emergency and disaster management have disclosed that Kogi state lack the human resources, skills, finance and equipment to effectively tackled  flood disaster which has become a perennial menace in the state.

This was contained in a communique signed by Mrs Dorcas Enehe of the state Minsitry of Environment, Mr Paul Enemali of SEMA, Mr Stephen Alabi Fire Service Department and Mrs Bukola Ikuseru of SEMA.  issued at the end of their two – day 2019 second quarterly  meeting  held in Lokoja and facilitated by the Abuja  Operation office of the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA).

The communique said that the development was responsible for the huge loss recorded in the state during the 2012 flood disaster and the subsequent ones.

They appealed to the government to intervene and fill the gap by providing the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) with needed equipment, skilled workers, accommodation  and funds to effectively carry out its mandate.

“Kogi State Government should ensure that SEMA is properly established with functional technical department in order to operate effectively,” the communique said.

The stakeholders urged SEMA to continue to harness avalibale skills among relevant stakeholders for disaster control  and management in the state pending the intervention of government.

Earlier,  declaring the meeting open, the Director – General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja said that the meeting was organised to ascertain the state’s flood emergency preparedness and response strategy.

He said that with the advent of heavy rain, there was need for all hands to be on deck to prepare for emergency and put strategies in place to control and manage it.

Represented by Mr Bitrus Samuel, Head, Abuja Operation office, said that the state  is prone to flood because if its location , saying it  was the worst hit by the 2018 flood disasters.

“We may not be able to prevent natural emergencies , but adequate control can be put in place prior to their occurrence to reduce the magnitude of human and material loss , including disruption to public utility , service and economy,” he told the stakeholders.

Present at the meeting were  stakeholders from the Red Cross, fire service, ministry of environment, waste management authority, Ministry of health, civil defence, army, NIMET, NEMA, civil society  and religious organisations.

Leave a Reply