House of Reps Call on NEMA, Others for Early Response to Mitigate Impact of Flood Disaster in Adamawa State

 We are calling for review of past 

resolutions on flood disasters in order to harmonize all recommendations to address root cause 

of the perennial flood disaster – Hon. Kwamoti Laori:

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

The House of Representatives had urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social 

Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stockpiling relief materials at strategic locations as palliative to the suffering of the victims in good time.

The House’s resolution was sequel to the motion Kwamoti Bitrus Laori representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

He said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with other relevant agencies of government has flagged off sensitization of flood-prone communities across 

Nigeria on the need for early warning and preparedness in response to flood disasters;

He Recalls that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by 

the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) at the beginning of the year 2023 both forecasted early onset of rainfall and high probability of flooding across the nation especially in states along the Benue and Niger trough.

Kwamoti Laori said the horrific experience of 2022 when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; which according to NEMA claimed over 603 lives, displaced over 1.4 Million people, 

injured over 2,400 people, destroyed about 82,035 houses and over 332,327 hectares of farmlands across the country, the property losses were estimated to cost Trillions of Naira; which further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the country;

He expressed concern “that in the third week of June some parts of Nasarawo – Demsa in the Demsa Local 

Government Area and Sabon-Pegi in the Numan Local Government Area were flooded, due to the heavy downpour that affected many homes and destroyed property worth millions of Naira. The 

flood also caused a washout of a box culvert in Gani Gaku, along Numan -Yola Road, thus coming earlier than the onset of rainfall predicted in the region;

“He said credible and timely predictions of flood disaster have proven over the years that flooding has become an annual recurring in Nigeria with huge human and material costs in addition to the population displacement that comes with it as well as the health consequences on children and other vulnerable groups

“Submits that NEMA and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies should be mobilized and funded to prepare adequate logistics needed for distribution to victims at the earliest 

occurrence of the impending disaster to mitigate its impact on the Nigerian population already in distress as a result of the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

Following the motion the House of Representatives urged the FederalMinistry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social 

Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stockpiling relief materials at strategic locations to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time and set up camps and vehicles for emergency evacuatio

The House also mandated the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency and Disaste

Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of the disaster and work out a possible lasting solution to the ecological problems i

all flood disaster-prone areas in the Countr

The House also mandated the Committee on Ecological Fund and Environment to review the pas

resolutions on flood disasters to harmonize all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster for the purpose of implementation to save the nation from the huge cost of disaster response expenditure annually and report back within three (3) week

for further legislative actions.s t y.n r n.

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EARLY RESPONSE TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF FLOOD DISASTER IN DEMSA/NUMAN/LAMURDE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY OF ADAMAWA STATE.

 BY RT. HON. KWAMOTI BITRUS LAORI

The House

Notes that National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with other relevant agencies of government has flagged off sensitization of flood prone communities across Nigeria on the need for early warning and preparedness in response to flood disaster. Important as sensitization is for early warning, for it to make any difference, it must be matched with early response and what this means is that communities at risk must be empowered with timely information, equipped with skills and resources that gives communities the needed capacity for preparedness towards mitigation and response before the disaster occurs and recovery thereafter. 

Recall that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) at the beginning of the year 2023 both forecasted early onset of rainfall and high probability of flooding across the nation especially in states along the Benue and Niger trough. 

Aware of the horrific experience of 2022, when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; which according to NEMA claimed over 603 lives, displaced over 1.4 Million people, injured over 2,400 people, destroyed about 82,035 houses and well over 332,327 hectares of farm lands across the country. The property losses were estimated to cost Trillions of Naira; which further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the country. Similar predictions and warnings given at that time were not taken seriously as is the case today.

Concerned that in the third week of June or less than two weeks ago, some parts of Nasarawo – Demsa in Demsa local Government Area and Sabon-Pegi in Numan Local Government Area were flooded, due to the heavy downpour that affected many homes and destroyed property worth millions of Naira. The flood also caused a washout of a box culvert in Gani Gaku, along Numan -Yola Road. Note that this is coming earlier than onset of rainfall predicted in the region.   

Further concerned that as credible and timely as these predictions of flood disaster have proven over the years, flooding has become an annual recurring decimal in Nigeria with huge human and material costs in addition to the population displacement that comes with it as well as the health consequences on children and other vulnerable groups due to exposure to diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles, typhoid fever, meningitis, viral hepatitis, and mental health challenges. 

Submits that NEMA and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies should be mobilized and funded to prepare adequate logistics needed for distribution of relief to victims at the earliest occurrence of the impending disaster to mitigate its impact on Nigerian population already in distress as a result of the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products.

Accordingly resolves to: 

Urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stock piling relief materials at strategic locations to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time;

Urge the National Emergency Management Agency to provide adequate materials for setting up camps and vehicles for emergency evacuation. 

Urge to the Federal Government Ecological Fund Office to work out a lasting solution to the ecological problems in flood disaster prone areas across the Country;

Mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency & Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of disaster.

 

Mandate all relevant Committees to review past motions and resolutions on flood disaster with the view to harmonizing all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster and implement such, in order to save the nation, the huge cost of disaster response annual expenditure; 

Mandate the above listed Committee to ensure compliance and report back to the House within three weeks.

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*Rt. Hon. Kwamoti B. Laori visits the Registrar, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba.*

 

The member representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in the National Assembly, Rt Hon. Kwamoti B Laori has commended the Registrar of the EHORECON for his visionary  leadership which has  transformed and strengthen the profession in the Country since his appointment in 2020.

The Law maker who served as member of the House Committee on Environment in the 9th Assembly stressed the importance of the Council in upholding global best practices and standards among Environmental Health Practitioners  in the Country, also maintained that such feat should be sustained. 

Rt. Hon. Kwamoti stated that as a body established by law to regulate the conduct and practice of Environmental Health profession in Nigeria, the Council's performance is rated very high, especially given its phenomenal contributions in the fight against COVID 19 Pandemic. 

He called on the federal government to continue to support the Council to achieve its mandate of ensuring high professionalism and preventing quackery in service delivery to Nigerians.

The Federal law maker assured more legislative support while encouraging the Council to do more to ensure high environmental safety standards and practice is maintained throughout the Country. 

In his reaction, the Registrar of EHORECON, who was visibly elated, thanked the law maker for the visit and commendation, also promised to do more to make the profession and the nation proud.

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