NIGERIA’S National Disaster
Framework describes
disaster management as a
multijurisdictional, multisectoral,
multi-disciplinary
and multi-resource initiative. It
recognises the importance of federal,
state and local governments, civil
society organisations (CSOs) and
the private sector to discharge their
respective roles and responsibilities
and complement each other in
achieving shared goals of disaster
management.
The document then stipulates that
the tiers of government, relevant
ministries, departments and agencies
(MDAs), the military, police, paramilitary
and civil society organisations
(CSOs) shall develop their capacities
in disaster management. In addition,
community institutions shall acquire
disaster management capabilities
as first responders, and Emergency
Management Volunteers (EMV)
shall be established to compliment
the organised structures. Disaster
Response Units (DRUs) shall be
established in different military
formations across the country to
provide assistance to civil authority
during emergencies.
This stipulation was no doubt a
consequence of the global paradigm
shift in approaches to disaster
management during the last 12
years or so from relief-centric to a
multi dimensional approach. The role
of NGOs in this context therefore
assumes added significance. For the
avoidance of doubt, NEMA has sought
to involve CSOs in its programmes
and activities especially the numerous
workshops it organises every now and
then. However, for these organisations
to function more effectively there
evacuate. Following the 2012 floods
in many parts of the country, the Red
Cross has assisted scores of families
to rebuild their swept away homes in
many local governments of Kogi State.
CSOs and NGOs therefore have
responsibility during the pre-disaster
phase to generate awareness educate,
train, establish community task force.
More than governmental agencies,
they could also be more effective
in setting up community disaster
management committees and teams,
establish management strategies,
and conduct simulation exercises.
Some experts have added that these
groups should equally be encouraged
to conduct vulnerability assessment
and coordination with government
and non government agencies. As
soon as disasters strike, trained
volunteers will certainly be useful in
assisting officials and providing first
aid, sanitation and hygiene, damage
assessment and assistance to external
agencies bringing relief materials.
And if properly trained and empowered,
CSOs may be in charge of providing
technical and material support for safe
construction, revival of educational
institutions and restoration of
means of livelihood and assist
the government in monitoring
the pace of implementation for
various reconstruction and recovery
programmes as seen in the example of
the Nigerian Red Cross.
For many years, volunteerism and
humanitarianism have take flights
from the country. This coincided
with the abolition of Civics from
the primary schools. With this,
organisations like Boys Scout,
Girls Guild, Man O’War and many
others ceased to exist. Deliberately
encouraging SCOs and NGOs could
thus be a way of teaching members of
the society especially youths on how
to become involved in volunteerism
once again.
According to the 1997 World Disasters
Report, humanitarianism is “a
way of acting: carrying out actions
which are and are perceived to be,
impartial, neutral and, by extension
independent from political religious or
other extraneous bias”. There is thus
a need to encourage NGOs and CSOs
already active at communities, local
governments, states and even at the
national level to me more and more
involved and active in emergency
management. Evidence has shown
that CSOs and NGOs are usually more
effective in the management of certain
tasks. A well-coordinated approach
giving a lead role to these bodies with
linkages with larger NGOs and local
emergency management committees
will go a long way in institutionalising
the role of NGOs in disaster risk
reduction.
As presently constituted, NEMA has
a staff that is less than 1,000 and
most states are yet to have effective
emergency management agency’s
experienced in handling situations
arising out of natural disasters,
further highlighting the benefits
derivable from arming CSOs and
NGOs.
It will therefore, be in the interest of
effective disaster management in
the country for NEMA to set out a
determined approach to registering
NGOS and CSOs involved in this
endeavour for proper integration into
its programmes and activities. These
bodies must not be made to rely solely
on foreign funding for their activities.
The Nigerian Red Cross has been
complaining about the neglect that it
has been subjected to by the Federal
Government over the years despite
the fact that it was established by an
Act of Nigerian parliament.
Adejokun is national coordinator,
Journalists Against Disaster
Initiative
is the need for them to rely less on
foreign aids and for government
through NEMA, SEMAs and other
MDAs to develop a systematic funding
arrangement for them in their annual
budgets.
Over the years, the lack of a wellcoordinated
network between the
government systems and the NGO
sector and also among the NGOs
themselves have no doubt hampered
efforts to effectively administer
the Nation Disaster Management
Strategy. The NEMA Establishment
Act of 1999 gives the body the power
“to coordinate the activities of all
voluntary organisations engaged in
emergency relief operations in any
part of the Federation”. The important
function of NGOs is that of being a
link between the government and
the community. The importance of
these roles is highlighted through its
integration into all the three stages
of disaster management including,
pre-disaster during disaster and postdisaster
phase.
Statistics show that the occurrences
of disaster as well as magnitude
increased tremendously with the
phenomenon of global warming,
but when these hazards strike, the
communities are the first to react,
irrespective of their profession,
status, cast or culture. Community
based organisations are therefore
essential to serve both as first
responders and specialised agents to
attend to victims needs.
Examples of how these organisations
can be as relevant as government
agencies can be seen in the activities
of Red Cross. Over the years, Red
Cross staff and volunteers have
always been those to get to disaster
scenes first. They also prepare citizens
against future occurrences by training
them on how to administer first aid
in addition to educating residents of
disaster prone victims on the need