Abuja – The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday said they had taken steps to introduce a legal framework on disaster management in the country.
Mr Bello Diram, the Secretary General of NRSC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja ahead of a three-day disaster management workshop.
The theme of the workshop is: “Strengthening Legal Preparedness for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction’’.
It is organised by NRCS in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Society, and NEMA in Abuja.
Diram said that the workshop was informed by the need for a legal frame work to facilitate the operations of international donor disaster response, noting that disaster was a global issue.
“The workshop is timely and of utmost relevance, as it would encourage international humanitarian organisations in assisting the country during disasters.
“The absence of a legal frame work would further hinder a rapid response to the disaster due to government protocols and regulations as logistics and regulations must be adhered to,’’ he said.
Diram also stressed the need for stakeholders to concentrate on disaster risk reduction, noting that such would save funds, lives and properties in the country.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr Umar Mairiga, the Programme Coordinator, NRCS, said the workshop aimed to promote awareness among stakeholders, such as civil societies and national disaster management agencies.
He said the awareness was on the importance of establishing a legal frame work for effective international disaster operations.
The workshop, he said, was also aimed at exploring the needs and possibilities for Nigeria to adopt existing tools and legislations relating to international assistance. (NAN)