Member representing the federal constituency of Demsa/Numan/Lamurde/ in the national assembly, Hon Kwamoti Bitrus Laori has call on agencies like National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mitigate the possibility of flood disaster by prompt response.
Kwamoti made the call while rising an issue of urgent public importance at the floor of the house and NEMA in collaboration with other relevant agencies of government has to flagged off sensitization of flood prone communities across Nigeria on the need for early warning and preparedness in response to flood disaster.
Kwamoti said Important as sensitization is for early warning, for it to make any difference, it must be matched with early response and what this means is that communities at risk must be empowered with timely information, equipped with skills and resources that gives communities the needed capacity for preparedness towards mitigation and response before the disaster occurs and recovery thereafter.
Kwamoti in his speech said:
“Recall that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) at the beginning of the year 2023 both forecasted early onset of rainfall and high probability of flooding across the nation especially in states along the Benue and Niger trough.
“Aware of the horrific experience of 2022, when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; which according to NEMA claimed over 603 lives, displaced over 1.4 Million people, injured over 2,400 people, destroyed about 82,035 houses and well over 332,327 hectares of farm lands across the country.
“The property losses were estimated to cost Trillions of Naira; which further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the country. Similar predictions and warnings given at that time were not taken seriously as is the case today.
“Concerned that in the third week of June or less than two weeks ago, some parts of Nasarawo – Demsa in Demsa local Government Area and Sabon-Pegi in Numan Local Government Area were flooded, due to the heavy downpour that affected many homes and destroyed property worth millions of Naira. The flood also caused a washout of a box culvert in Gani-Gaku, along Numan -Yola Road. Note that this is coming earlier than onset of rainfall predicted in the region.
“Further concerned that as credible and timely as these predictions of flood disaster have proven over the years, flooding has become an annual recurring decimal in Nigeria with huge human and material costs in addition to the population displacement that comes with it as well as the health consequences on children and other vulnerable groups due to exposure to diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, typhoid fever, meningitis, viral hepatitis, and mental health challenges.
“NEMA and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies should be mobilized and funded to prepare adequate logistics needed for distribution of relief to victims at the earliest occurrence of the impending disaster to mitigate its impact on Nigerian population already in distress as a result of the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
“Accordingly resolves to: Urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stock piling relief materials at strategic locations to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time;
” I’m Urging the National Emergency Management Agency to provide adequate materials for setting up camps and vehicles for emergency evacuation.
“I’m calling on the Federal Government Ecological Fund Office to work out a lasting solution to the ecological problems in flood disaster prone areas across the Country;
“To Mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency & Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of disaster.
“To Mandate all relevant Committees to review past motions and resolutions on flood disaster with the view to harmonizing all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster and implement such, in order to save the nation, the huge cost of disaster response annual expenditure;
“To Mandate the above listed Committee to ensure compliance and report back to the House within three weeks.”
