Oborevwori Commends World Bank For Proactive Emergency Management

BY CHRISTIAN EZE

The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, yes­terday, declared open a two-day workshop on Emergency Prepared­ness and Response (EP&R) and Stake­holders’ Engagement, an initiative of the World Bank in collaboration with the Delta State Government and Agencies that have been considered relevant to the needs of the society in time of emergency.

The Governor noted that the work­shop was very timely as it highlighted the need by both government and agencies to be more proactive and adequately prepared to address emer­gency situation when such eventuali­ties occur.

Gov Oborevwori, who was rep­resented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House, Hon Michael Ifeanyi Osuoza said that the issue of emergency was not alien to Delta, stressing that the State was readily prepared to weather the storm by ensuring that an emergency mat­ters were adequately addressed.

The governor pointed out that the State had a standby body for any form of emergency; whether flood or fire, and officials are very conscious of their responsibilities, adding that it is bet­ter to prevent than to salvage, which is why the state is proactive about emergencies.

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a noble initiative and advised all the participants to give the best attention to the workshop as it will increase their knowledge of emergency demands.

The representative of the World Bank, Francis Ntoka, who is in-charge of Disaster Risk Management, said that there were some basic concerns that the bank focuses in addressing emer­gencies, and advised that such features should be addressed and provisions made to resolve emergencies.

He listed theb demands as prepared­ness, the competence of the officers involved and their willingness to execute the job. Others are the avail­ability of facilities that will enhance the wellbeing of the persons involved in the emergency situation; the avail­ability of warehouse to accommodate and manage the disaster; ambulance as the case may demand, would be of great importance and reservations for such emergencies.

The Director of the National Man­agement Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar represented by the Director in South South Zone, Tepikor Godwin said that the State was one of those selected by World Bank for the exer­cise and the essence was to ensure that there was adequate level of prepared­ness for emergency situations.

The Delta State Director of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Godwin Ebreneyin noted that the workshop was very neces­sary as the six States listed for the programme will have reasons to rejoice over the opportunity, assert­ing that emergency situations can be devastating but it becomes much lighter when minds are adequately prepared, with facilities on ground.

He, however, observed that the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Obo­rovwori has been proactive and ad­equate provisions were always made to confront the challenges when and wherever such occurs. He said that it is not only flooding that courses emer­gency situations but other life sectors like fire that can come up to destroy an area within a short period