Participants at a workshop on hazard risk analysis for Nigeria have underscored the critical role data and local emergency committees play in effective emergency response.
The participants said this at the hazard risk analysis for Nigeria workshop on Thursday in Lagos.
The workshop was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Director, of Technical and Strategy, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Ganiyu Wewe underscored the importance of Local Emergency Managers at the Local Government Areas.
Wewe said that properly trained local responders can kickstart response at the local level before the arrival of the state and other sister agencies.
According to him, the workshop countrywide risk analysis is critical in helping emergency responders expose the areas of vulnerability to emergencies in different regions.
He said the goal of disaster risk analysis was to allow for data collection required for proper planning.
He noted that with the peculiar nature of Lagos, there was a need for collaboration among emergency responders for the effective management of disasters in the state.
Also speaking, the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, of Kwara State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Oluwaseun Atolagbe, said the workshop was indeed timely.
Atolagbe recalled that the last update on Nigeria’s hazard risk analysis was done in 2021.
He added that it was important for all stakeholders, particularly SEMA, to conduct hazard risk analysis every three months for proper planning during emergencies.
He noted that the lessons from the workshop would be cascaded home, especially at the local level to consolidate emergency response in Kwara State.
He said there was a need to foster good working relationships between SEMA and the local emergency committees in each local council for effective management of emergencies in the states.
The Director of Operations, Edo State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Michael Aigbokhan expressed gratitude to NEMA/UNICEF for the workshop.
Aigbokhan said that lessons from the workshop would be leveraged to update the state’s emergency database.
“The lessons of the workshop would help us to prepare very well for emergency response in the state,” Aigbokhan said.
Also speaking, the General Manager, of Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Oludare Asaolu, underscored the importance of hazard risk analysis.
Asaolu said that hazard risk analysis helps in timely planning before any emergency occurs.
Also, the Administrative Secretary of Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Ojoulape Busari said the workshop had deepened her understanding of many issues in emergency response.
“Going back home, we have to strengthen our Local Emergency Committees, Busari said.
NAN
