Against the backdrop of the international efforts against the rising threats of disasters, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani Sidi said the Federal Government has committed much in the promotion of disaster risk reduction through various initiatives for efficient and effective disaster management in the country.
Sani Sidi stated this at the 5th African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction taking at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He said “In Nigeria, there is political will for disaster risk reduction management. The commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to risk reduction, the support of the United Nations Agencies, multilateral organizations, development partners and the private sector have sustained our risk reduction initiatives”.
He noted that Nigeria has made a significant progress in the implementation of all the key priority of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005- 2015 by identifying the hazard confronting the communities, adding that “NEMA is consistently promoting the decentralization of DRR activities at all levels of government and the local communities and has seen the children and youth as vanguards that can deliver messages of risk reduction and building resilience.”
“Investing in disaster risk reduction helps to reduce the impacts of hazards, decrease poverty and helps communities adapt to climate change, among other benefits. It is also clear to us that sustainable development and disaster risk reduction are consistent with each other” he said.
Declaring the conference open, the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim urged African countries to pay more attention to disaster issues and challenge delegates to come up ideas to help government in decision making.
The delegates at the conference are drawn from African countries, the United Nations agencies, intergovernmental regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, academia and technical institutions, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Government Organizations, local governments, community leaders, parliamentarians, youth, media and the private sector.
The Africa regional platform for disaster risk reduction is a conference that brings together all stakeholders in disaster management to share experience and to make commitments on actions they would take to protect people and economies from natural and man-made disasters.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim (sitting Center)in a group photograph after the opening of the 5th African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Abuja. Other dignitaries sitting are from R-L African Union Commissioner Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Special Rep of The UN Sec Gen Ms Margaretta Wahlstrom, DG NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi, FCT Min for State Olajumoke Akinjide, UN Resident Country Coordinator Dauda Traore, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Ryuichi Shoji.
Press and Public Relations Unit
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
Adetokunbo Adeemola Cresecent Abuja
Website: www.nema.gov.ng
Email: nemapress@yahoo.com
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