Oyo Deputy Gov receives NEMA over downscaling of flood, seeks further collaboration

Oyo Deputy Governor, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, on Thursday, received National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Team to Oyo State to kick starts the flag off of the 2024 downscaling of flood early warning alerts.

Receiving the team at the Governor’s office, the Deputy Governor, who doubles as the chairman of Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), commended the team for its sensitization initiative, emphasizing the importance of early warning in disaster preparedness and risk reduction as a tool to ignite early actions for mitigation of disaster risks.

He noted that the Oyo state Government acknowledges the “Sensitization” tour of NEMA to all prospective flood-affected states, particularly to the pacesetter state for the risk of flooding. 

He urged the agency for further collaboration with SEMA to mitigate flood risk, noting that most local governments in the state typically experience flooding, windstorms, and heavy rain during the rainy season.

Barr. Lawal, who commended NEMA for its downscaling and sensitization program, however appreciated the agency for its support to Oyo state government over emergency matters especially in light of the recent bomb blast that rocked the Bodija community.

He, however, appealed to the agency for improved relief materials to Oyo state, pointing out that Oyo state is much bigger than four or five states put together in the Southeast. 

In his words: “We appeal to NEMA to intimate the new DG that Oyo state government is still waiting for his support in respect to the recent bomb explosion that occurred in Bodija for its victims. 

“We are trying to cope with small scale disasters with the resources we have in the state. Disasters occur every time especially in market that usually have issue of fire accidents. I appeal to NEMA to also focus on disasters like that. 

“We have not been getting necessary support from NEMA on fire disasters. State government have always  been the first responder on the issue. So, we really need your support. 

“Also, we need time to time engagement with SEMA to mitigate disaster. We must work together. We are very much appreciative of your support. 

“So, on behalf of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, I welcome you to Oyo state.”

Earlier in his remarks, the NEMA team leader and Director Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr. Daniel Obot said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) through the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) respectively has provided forecasts on climate and flood issues. 

According to him, 2024 NIHSA has predicted in the AFO that 31 States with 148 LGAs are to be within the high flood risk areas while 35 States including FCT with 249 LGAs are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas. 

He added that the remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted for the low flood risk areas.

The team leader, who spoke on behalf of NEMA Director, Zubaida Umar, urged Oyo government to set up Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in every Local Government area, with predictable funding to handle disaster risk management at that level through collaboration with Community Volunteers.

This structure, according to him, is crucial to disaster risk management at the local level and should be put in place.

He commended Governor Makinde for the support the State Government has provided for the OYO SEMA while requesting for more technical and financial assistance for SEMA to undertake disaster risk reduction activities that are proactive, research inclined to unravel causal factors to disasters by identifying, monitoring and analyzing risk factors. 

“These are done with a view to addressing prevailing and future risks and vulnerabilities with overarching objective of enhancing community resilience for sustainable development and smart investment”, he said.