The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has revealed that no fewer than 179 persons have died and 532,600 others displaced by floods so far this year.
According to the agency, the floods have affected 28 States so far. With 208,655 persons displaced and 80,049 houses affected. It noted that 2,016 persons were injured, and 107,652 hectares of farmlands affected in 137 LGAs across the country.
The NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, made this disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja. She was speaking during the visit of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to the agency’s headquarters on a fact-finding mission.
Addressing the delegation, Umar said: “We activated the National Emergency Operation Centre, NEOC, for recent flooding. This was done to streamline disaster response efforts. The Centre is a command Centre for resource management and communication.
“From the Centre, the 2024 flood situation report as of Tuesday, August 27 shows that 28 States have been affected in 137 Local Government Areas.
“About 532,600 persons are affected, 208,655 displaced and 80,049 houses affected. 179 lives lost, 2,016 injuries sustained, and 107,652 hectares of farmlands affected.”
Umar also explained that the agency had conducted search and rescue operations this year. It also responded to flood disasters, fire incidents, collapsed buildings, as well as rainstorm and windstorm incidents.
The DG added that NEMA coordinated responses to 158 emergencies. Thereby, aiding 118,337 individuals, rescuing 4,706 and, unfortunately, reporting 1,414 fatalities.
Umar, however, revealed that inadequate funding was impeding the agency’s interventions. She added that “Limited financial resources restrict the agency’s capabilities and emergency responses.”
On why NEMA’s interventions were slow, the DG said: “Poor infrastructure, including inaccessible roads and communication systems, delays response time.”
In his speech, Chief of Staff stated that the purpose of the visit was to understand the challenges of NEMA and how to overcome them.
Gbajabiamila maintained that there was a need to have alternative sources of funding for the agency to fulfil its mandate.
He said: “I’m not shocked to hear that funding is a challenge. For what you do, a lot of money is required. But in Nigeria, like in many other countries, resources are limited. I think it is time we started looking outside the box and looking for more creative ways to fund NEMA. That is not to say that there would be no normal allocation from the budget circle.
“I am curious to ask the role of the States. Do we tweak the law or amend it? Perhaps the States should pay counterpart funding because, after all, these disasters occur in the States.
“Every disaster we talk about happens in the States. So, we need to start thinking and talking about what exactly we want the States to do. Either counterpart funding or an insurance scheme. So that if anything happens in any State, they can call on NEMA. And the money pumped into NEMA can be used for the States. I feel we need to start interrogating these issues.”
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu has assured victims of the recent floods across the country of his administration willingness to provide support. The President stated that he will continue to provide the necessary support to alleviate their suffering.
This was contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale.
He said: “The President sympathizes with all victims of these ravages of nature. Especially, the bereaved families, farmers, displaced communities, and those who have lost property.
“President Tinubu re-emphasizes the need for concerted effort to address existential environmental concerns. And to build a more climate resilient and adaptive society.”
source: The Nation
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