Tackling Poverty Will Reduce Disaster Risk In FCT- Perm Sec.
By: Prudence Okonna & Sunday Shekwonya
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Olusade Adesola, has said tackling poverty is a significant means of reducing the resultant effects of Disaster risks in the Federal Capital Territory.
Adesola stated this during the commemoration of the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), organized by the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the FCDA Conference Hall in Abuja, Friday.
The Permanent Secretary said the United Nations acknowledged poverty and the desperate attempt to escape from it often results in unwholesome environmental practices that increase vulnerability to disaster risk.
Adesola, who was represented at the occasion by the Director of FCT State Cash Transfer Unit, Olubunmi Olowokere, noted that there must be deliberate and well-coordinated efforts by the government and its partners to reduce poverty and its potential consequences.
Acting Director-General (DG) FEMA, Muhammad Sabo, while welcoming guests to the event, explained that fighting inequality requires a multi-faceted approach and the International Day is not just a day to create awareness but to call for action from everyone including people in the rural communities.
According to the DG, fighting inequality on all levels should be beyond a directive by the UN but a moral imperative required of every human being.
He added that as part of efforts to fight inequality for a resilient future, FEMA has conducted vulnerability, communication, and Risk assessments to ensure that no one is left behind, especially in rural communities.
Speaking in a paper presentation on the theme for IDDRR 2023, “Fighting inequality for a resilient future” the former DG of FEMA, Dr. Abbas Idriss, revealed that some of the factors that predispose people to disasters include poverty, lack of access to education and healthcare, social inequality as well as environmental degradation.
Idriss, however, recommended that to reduce disasters, everyone needs to be aware of hazards their community is predisposed to, develop disaster plans for households and businesses, support organizations working to reduce disaster risk, and spread the word on disaster risk reduction, especially on social media.
Meanwhile, as part of the strategies of creating ample awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction, FEMA embarked on a road walk from the FCTA Secretariat Gate to the venue of the event, the FCDA Conference Room.
Stakeholders present at the event include Representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Christian Blind Mission (CBM), FCT Police Command, and FCT Fire Service among others.
