Stakeholders in emergency and disaster management said that Kogi State lack the human resources, skills, finance and equipment to effectively and adequately manage flood disaster which has become a perennial problem in the state.
The stakeholders made the observation in a communique issued and circulated among media houses in Lokoja on Sunday.
The communique which was issued at the end of their two – day 2019 second quarterly meeting held in Lokoja said that the development was responsible for the huge loss recorded in the state during the 2012 flood disaster and the subsequent ones.
The two – day meeting was facilitated by the Abuja Operation office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The communique was signed by Mrs Dorcas Enehe of the state Minsitry of Environment, Mr Paul Enemali of SEMA, Mr Stephen Alabi of Fire Service Department and Mrs Bukola Ikuseru of SEMA.
They appealed to the government to intervene and fill the gap by providing the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) with needed equipment, skilled workers, accommodation and funds to effectively carry out its mandate.
“Kogi State Government should ensure that SEMA is properly established with functional technical department in order to operate effectively,” the communique said.
However, they, urged SEMA to continue to harness avalibale skills among relevant stakeholders for disaster control and management in the state pending the intervention of government.
Earlier, while while declaring the meeting open, the Director – General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja said that the meeting was organised to ascertain the state’s flood emergency preparedness and response strategy.
He said that with the advent of heavy rain, there was need for all hands to be on deck to prepare for emergency and put strategies in place to control and manage it.
Maihaja who was represented by Mr Bitrus Samuel, Head, Abuja Operation office, said that the state is prone to flood because if its location , saying it was the worst hit by the 2018 flood disasters.
“We may not be able to prevent natural emergencies , but adequate control can be put in place prior to their occurrence to reduce the magnitude of human and material loss , including disruption to public utility , service and economy,” he told the stakeholders.
Present at the meeting were stakeholders from the Red Cross, fire service, ministry of environment, waste management authority, Ministry of health, civil defence, army, NIMET, NEMA, civil society and religious organisations.
