By Angela Atabo
Mrs Florence Wenegieme, a Fellow of Disaster Risk Leadership has called on the federal, state and local governments to increase public investment on disaster prevention.
Wenegieme, who is also a Fellow of Risk Managers Society of Nigeria, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).
She also called on government at all levels to ensure effective implementation of policies that promote resilience and safety.
According to the immediate past Director General of Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, such steps would build a safer and a more sustainable future for all Nigerians.
She described the theme, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” as apt, stressing the need to increase investment in DRR and other prevention efforts at all levels, including private organisations and communities.
She also called for a paradigm shift from reactive response to proactive interactions to achieve the desired results.
”In recent years, disasters have become more frequent, costly, and devastating, manifesting through floods, building collapses, epidemics, fire outbreaks, road crashes, erosion, and other emergencies.
”While direct disaster costs have grown to approximately 202 billion dollars annually, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 estimates that the true cost is 11 times higher at nearly 2.3 trillion dollars.
”In spite of this, investment in disaster risk reduction remains far too low in national budgets and international assistance.
”This emphasises the need for prevention, preparedness, planning, resilience and increased investment as crucial actions to saving lives and protecting property,” she said.
Wenegieme also stressed the need for increased awareness and sensitisation on DRR.
The expert further called for proactive measures and approaches in DRR by prioritising resilience in national and community development to prevent future losses.
”There is also the need to support communities affected by disasters with shock-responsive interventions to enable them rebuild their lives,” she added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IDDRR began in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.
October 13 was, therefore, set aside to celebrate how people and communities around the world were reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. (NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
