The Federal Government has emphasised the necessity of creating an integrated disaster database and risk information management system for the country.
Mr Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said this in Abuja during a technical workshop on the United Nations Risk Reduction Monitoring and Reporting of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030.
Organised by NEMA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the workshop concluded that the proposed integrated disaster database would enhance existing capacities across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Ahmed urged disaster risk managers to strive for a nation where disasters are challenges that can be overcome, providing opportunities for resilience, adaptation, growth, and development.
He emphasised the importance of translating knowledge into action, stating that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians depend on the ability of disaster risk reduction stakeholders to do so.
Monitoring and reporting of disaster events, a focal point of the Sendai Framework adopted in 2015, play a crucial role in its implementation.
Mr Clement Nze, the Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), proposed a review of the current status of disaster risk data in Nigeria during the workshop.
He highlighted that the project is supported by the Sahel Resilience Project (SRP) of the UNDP.
Olivier Abayisenga, a representative from the UNDP, stressed the importance of consolidating all developed frameworks on disaster management.
He highlighted the need to interpret risks in the development planning process, bringing together various partners and humanitarian agencies working on disaster risk prediction and management.
Abayisenga reiterated the UNDP’s continued support to the federal government in achieving a disaster-free year.
