The Rivers State government said it has put in place necessary plans to acquire new fire-fighting equipment this year.
The commissioner for Special Duties, Chief (Hon) Emeka Nwogu made the remark at the opening of a one day stakeholder’s meeting on “Emergency/Disaster Management at the Ministry of Justice, secretariat, Port Harcourt, on April 23, 2012.
In his opening remarks, the commission stated that safety is “Everyone’s business. It is important to take special or extra ordinary care to save human lives, which will be done with the readiness of people to response to emergency situations and those with response capacity and capabilities are only qualified to take such challenge.”
Hon. Nwogu said for much to be achieved there is the need for the provision of necessary equipment, well handed personnel, enlightenment programmes, workshop and effective communication among others.
The commissioner for special duties maintained that, for the ministry to meet all its tasks, the ministry will put in place policy, strategic planning, management, infrastructural and logistical support for the provision of safety management. Hon. Nwogu who expressed fear in case of large scale disaster because of lack of proper emergency/disaster management mechanism in the areas of floods, thunder storms, explosives, and collapse of major buildings since no one can predict, however raised hope in case of fire accidents in the state.
The commissioner pointed out that such emergency/disaster management involves the preparation for the unforeseen circumstances if they occur, especially in the area of evacuation, quarantining, rehabilitation and response in record time to save lives and properties.
He said since the government could not do everything concerning the emergency/disaster management alone there was need to collaborate with the private and public sector for a disaster free state, with the idea of sharing roles and responsibilities among various agencies that could assist in case of a disaster, while the ministry will coordinate.
Earlier, in an interview with journalists shortly after the event, the commissioner said there was plan to acquire new fire equipment by the state government to compliment the old ones. He said training and retraining of staff is vital to the response and management of disaster, while the ministry will train other MDA’S, market women, hotels and owners of public buildings, and the provision of rapid response vehicles.
The commissioner noted that there is need for a memorandum of understanding with all private sectors in the management relief area and that there is a process to re-present bill on emergency/disaster management in Rivers State House of Assembly to take care of all that concerned disaster management.
Also speaking, the zonal coordinator South South National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Emeniika Umesi said there is need for a legal framework to help speed up the work on disaster management in the state, while calling on the Rivers State House of Assembly to look unto the Bill on Disaster Management which has been there for the past two years.
Mr. Umesi said presently, there is no proper coordinating Agency in case of major disaster in the state and advised the state government to increase the budget allocation to the ministry of special duties. The zonal coordinator said for now most of the workers are not used to the latest fire equipment to help in the risk reduction while blaming the local government chairmen for not doing anything to prevent disaster. During the interactive section, the stakeholders also suggested ways that will help curb disaster in the state.
There were representatives of oil companies and other organizations that attended the stakeholders meeting. ###
Pius Dukor
