The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is developing a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategy and action plan for Nigeria to mitigate disasters.

NEMA Director General Mustapha Ahmed said developing a DRR strategy and action plan was imperative given the frequent man-made and natural disasters.

Mr Ahmed, represented by Daniel Obot, NEMA’s director of disaster risk reduction, said this at the opening of a two-day workshop on disaster mitigation on Monday in Jos.

The DG stated that the management of disasters is currently anchored on preparedness, mitigation, risk reduction and adaptation.

However, he said that could only be achieved in Nigeria by fully deploying a strategic action plan with clearly assigned roles and responsibilities to implementing ministries, departments and agencies.

Mr Ahmed pointed out that the need to develop the plan arose from the findings of the assessment conducted by the Overseas Development Institute.

He emphasised that the unprecedented frequency of disaster risks such as banditry, boat mishaps, building collapses, urban and market fires, and climate change further ignited the compelling desire to develop the plan.

“This activity is under the Sahel Resilience Project, “Strengthening Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation for Resilience in the Sahel Region: Fostering Risk-Informed Solutions for Sustainable Development.

“The project is organised within the context of multi-partnership, in collaboration with the UNDP Resilience Project and the African Union Commission (AUC),” he stated.

Sunday Amama, the representative of UNDP, Nigeria Sahel Resilience Project, said the national DRR strategy was for 2024–2030, and the action plan was for 2024–2026.

Mr Amama stated that disaster risk management at all levels was key to building the resilience of communities and economies to disasters.

“As a signatory to the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, Nigeria has been working diligently towards achieving its targets.

“Our shared objective with NEMA is to develop a new disaster reduction strategy for Nigeria that is in line with the African Union’s Programme of Action.

“The objective is also for regional efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities in West Africa and the Sahel region.

“Within the next two days, we will define the strategic directions with guiding principles and actionable plans for coordinated actions and effective disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and risk reduction in the country,” he explained.

In his remarks, Eugene Nyenlong, NEMA North-Central zonal coordinator, said that the workshop was to get input from relevant stakeholders in the zone to develop the plan.

(NAN)