Research institute urges governments to fund disaster management agencies

The Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) has called on governments to strengthen agencies responsible for prevention, control and management of disasters.

Specifically, it canvassed improved funding, staffing and equipment provision for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies as well as Local Emergency Management Agencies, donors and NGOs in disaster management.

Speaking on the topic, “Socio-Economic Analysis of Natural Disasters in Nigeria,” Dr. Luqman Adeagbo of the Economic Policy department yesterday said more focus should be on risk reduction strategy than post-disaster measures.

While calling for strengthening of the institutional capacity of the agencies, Adeagbo said “policy response had been mostly reactive while institutional capacity was weak due to various challenges like lack of relevant documents, intervention programmes and strategies.”

He said: “Floods and windstorms are most prevalent and have severe negative socio-economic impact on the people. Some critical factors like poor refuse disposal practices, natural resource-based source of income and use of poor construction materials aggravate severe negative impact of natural disasters.”

Adeagbo, had in a study, stated that flood was most prevalent between 2009 and 2013 followed by wind and rainstorms, while displaced people ranged from 26,525 in 2011 to 615,534 in 2012.

He also revealed that mortality ranged from 30 in 2011 to 982 in 2012, adding: “Highest number of displacements and deaths occurred in 2012.

“There is a need to improve institutional capacity, adaptive capacity and coping strategies as recommended.

“There is a need to create more opportunities for involvement of others, encourage community development efforts and effective implementation of social protection programmes.