Nigeria Disaster Preparedness Strategies: An Overview of Existing Disaster Response Plans

Presented by Engr. Daniel B. Gambo, Mnse Ag. Director of Training, NEMA

INTRODUCTION
Disasters are Natural or Human induced events that disrupts the normal functioning of the Society. To address the impact of disasters which normally happens with or without prior notice and often with un-quantified loss to lives, property and the destruction to our cherished environment, It is necessary to put in place Institutions, Policies and Plans. The main purpose of these institutions and Plans is to address the challenges that are often posed by the hazards of disasters in a timely, effective and efficient manner in order to minimize its impact on the vulnerable community.

AIM

The Aim of this session is to present to you an overview of Nigerias institutional framework and existing disaster response plans that are already developed by NEMA and Stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of disasters.

SCOPE
Response Institutions in Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Functions of NEMA Response Tasks Existing Disaster Response plans in Nigeria

RESPONSE INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESPONSE AGENCIES
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Federal Fire Service (FFS) Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRSC) National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Nigeria Maritime and safety administration (NIMASA) Nigerian Inland Water Ways (NIWA) Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS/VIOs) Private Construction Companies International Development Partners (NGOs)

RESPONSE INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESPONSE AGENCIES Federal/ State Ministry of Health (FMOH) Federal/ State Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) Federal/ State Ministry of Works (FMOW) Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Federal Ministry of Transport (FMOT) Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMOAvi) Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Nigerian Prison Service (NPS) Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Military (Army, Navy, Air Force) Disaster Response Units (DRUs)

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is an Agency of the Federal Government directly under the supervision of the Presidency saddled with the responsibility of Managing disasters in Nigeria. The Agency was established through Act 12 (as amended) by Act 50 of 1999

FUNCTIONS OF NEMA
Formulate policy on all activities relating to disaster management in Nigeria and co-ordinate the plans and programmes for efficient and effective response to disasters at national level; Co-ordinate and promote research activities relating to disaster management at the national level; Monitor the state of preparedness of all organizations or agencies which may contribute to disaster management in Nigeria;

FUNCTIONS OF NEMA
Collate data from relevant agencies so as to enhance forecasting, planning and field operation of disaster management; Educate and inform the public on disaster prevention and control measures; Co-ordinates and facilitate the provision of necessary resources for search and rescue and other types of disaster curtailment activities in response to distress call;

Co-ordinate the activities of all voluntary organizations engaged in emergency relief operations in any part of the Federation; Receive financial and technical aid from international organizations and nongovernmental agencies for the purpose of disaster management in Nigeria; Collect emergency relief supply from local, foreign sources, including international and non-governmental agencies; Distribute emergency relief materials to victims of natural or other disasters and to assist in the rehabilitation of the victims where necessary;

Liaise with State Emergency Management committees established under section 8 of this Act to assess and monitor where necessary, the distribution of relief materials to disaster victims; Process relief assistance to such countries as may be determined from time to time; Liaise with the United Nations Disaster Reduction Organization or such other international bodies for the reduction of natural and other disasters; Prepare the annual budget management in Nigeria; and; for disaster

Perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Agency are required for the purpose of achieving its objectives under this Act.

Looking at the fifteen point mandate of NEMA listed above, you will discover words such as co-ordinate, collate, liaise, monitor, collect and receive are used. This means that NEMA is essentially a coordinating Agency. It is placed at the center of a network of disaster management Institutions, liaising and coordinating their efforts. Thus the success or failure of disaster management in Nigeria depends largely on how well these organizations are working and how effectively NEMA is able to co-ordinate their efforts.

RESPONSE TASKS
Sensitization Mobilization of resources Assessing the disaster Treating remaining hazard effects Providing water and food Shelter Fatality management Sanitation Security Social services. Resumption of critical infrastructure Donation management

Existing Disaster Response Plans and Agreements

National Disaster Response plan (NDRP) 2001 The Integrated National Avian and pandemic Influenza Response Plan 2007 Search and Rescue and Epidemic Evacuation plan (SAREEP) 2009 National Contingency Plan on Infrastructural resuscitation (NCPIR) 2010 National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) 2011 National Contingency Plan (NCP) 2012 National Emergency Management Agency Standard Operating Procedures 2012 Guidelines for use of Military assets and personnel during disasters 2012 Memorandum of understanding between NOA, NESREA and NEMA - 2013

National Disaster Response plan (NDRP)

The Agency with the active involvement of relevant stakeholders in disaster management has put in place to assist it in its role as a coordinator is the production of a National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2001. The Plan:

States the disaster response and recovery actions and responsibilities of the Federal Government and its Agencies; Describes the Federal Government response and recovery resources available to support States and Local Government and Communities at the Ward level to save lives, Protect public health and safety; protect property and aid victims in their reconstruction efforts after a disaster;

Describes disaster management facilities available in some non-governmental organizations which may be called upon for assistance in times of emergency;

Describes the standard operation procedures or disaster response functions of relevant Federal Government agencies and some non-governmental organizations;
Assigns disaster response functions various government agencies and NGOs; to

Provides a coordinating framework disaster response, with NEMA as its hub.

for

 Identifies 13 key support service areas required in disaster management

Transport; Communication; Public works and Engineering; Fire Fighting; Information and Planning; Mass Care; Resource support; Health and medical services; Search and rescue; Hazardous Material Food and Water; Energy; Military/Police support.

i)

Identify Agencies with roles in each of these areas; ii) Makes the Agency with core responsibility the primary or lead agency and the others as secondary or support agencies;

SEARCH AND RESCUE AND EPIDEMIC EVACUATION PLAN (SAREEP)

The Search and Rescue and Epidemic Evacuation Plan (SAREEP) is a document developed to serve as guide to provide a coordination and response mechanism for a timely, effective and efficient disaster response operation on receive of a disaster alert. Each section of the document, introduces a scenario using a specific trigger event or Hazard that has impacted a community causing a disaster that require the collaboration of stakeholders to deal with and thus a coordinated multi agency response. The document identify agencies that have responsibilities in dealing with such emergencies and assign organizational roles and tasks, stating Lead and Coordinating agencies at the Strategic, Tactical and Operational levels of coordination in disaster management.

The following Hazards are covered in this plan and the Incident Command Structure (ICS) is employed as the coordinating Mechanism:
1. Flood 2. Fire 3. Collapsed Building 4. Road Traffic Accident 5. Rail Accident 6. Maritime Disaster 7. Aviation Disaster 8. Oil Spill Disaster 9. Epidemic Disaster 10.Terrorism 1. Alerting System 2. Lines of Authority 3. Organisational Roles & Responsibilities at Strategic, Tactical & operational Levels

The National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF)

The National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) is a document developed to serve as a regulatory guideline for effective and efficient disaster management in Nigeria. The framework defines measurable, flexible and adaptable coordinating structures, and aligns key roles and responsibilities of disaster management stakeholders across the nation. It describes specific authorities and best practices for managing disasters. It explains a paradigm shift from response and recovery in disaster management to disaster risk reduction. It offers a holistic approach to disaster management and serves as a legal instrument to address the need for consistency among multiple stakeholders. It is a coherent, transparent and inclusive policy for disaster management in Nigeria.

 All Relevant Disaster management stakeholders can use this document as justification for organisational preparedness using the roles that have been assigned to them in it.

The plan ensures that all sectors in humanitarian responses such as Camp management, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Basic Education, Food and Nutrition, Logistics, Telecommunication and Security are addressed
It also serves as a link between National, Regional and International humanitarian actors.

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The NDMF therefore is a foundation upon which all plans, policies, programmes and procedures for disaster management can be created, developed or sustained The framework was developed to look at the following: 1. Institutional Capacity 2. Coordination mechanisms 3. Disaster Risk Assessment 4. Disaster Risk Reduction 5. Disaster Prevention, Preparedness/Mitigation 6. Disaster Rehabilitation 7. Facilitators

NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN ON INFRASTRUCTURAL RESUSCITATION (NCPIR)

The National Contingency Plan on Infrastructural Resuscitation (NCPIR) is a document developed to serve as guide to provide business continuity as well as providing a timely, effective and efficient process of restoring failed critical infrastructures after the impact of a disaster. Each section of the document, introduces the general situation and scenarios where a type of infrastructures is caused to collapse beyond instant repairs and will require the collaboration of stakeholders to deal with and thus require a coordinating multi agency response. It identified trigger events that could lead to these scenarios which included the following: Earthquake and Wind storms Fire Flood and Land slides Epidemics Violent conflicts such as Wars and civil crisis Volcanic eruptions Technology-induced disaster

NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR INFRASTRUCTURAL RESUSCITATION (NCPIR) The plan covers these critical infrastructures and services:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Medical /Health Communication Airports Roads and Bridges Electricity Water solid /Liquid Waste Management.

Each theme consist of: Strategic Objectives, List of relevant Stakeholders, Lines of Authority, Alerting System, Priorities, Resource need and Capacities Detailed tasking of each stakeholders.

NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN (NCP)

The National Contingency Plan is a multi-hazard contingency plan that specifically focused on hazards that have highest probability of occurrence and severity, such as flood, conflicts, drought and epidemics. The plan addresses the readiness of disaster management stakeholders in the country and defines the modus-operandi for engaging International assistance if and/or when required. It is guided by the Global Cluster Groupings to enable interface with the global system

1. Hazard Risk Scenario 2. Planning Assumptions 3. Sectoral Response in the following areas: Camp management Basic education Food and Nutrition Logistic and Telecommunication Security and Protection Water, sanitation and hygiene Health Emergency shelter and Non-food items

4. Contingency supply budget

The integrated National Avian and Pandemic influenza response plan

The Plan was developed by the National Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Avian Influenza under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Health in 2007 to address National and State response to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus A/H5N1 that causes a disease in domestic and wild birds. The overall strategic approach of the plan is to ensure that all stakeholders work in a coordinated and collective way to address the threat posed by avian and human pandemic influenza. The Plan also uses the ICS under the overall authority of the presidency to ensure a unified command of the multi-sectoral actors and stakeholders.

The integrated National Avian and Pandemic influenza response plan The plan provided stakeholders with roles, responsibilities and coordinating mechanisms in the PRE DURING POST disaster Phases for a time and efficient response. It identified the following Sectors and associate this sector with actors: Agriculture Sector Health Sector Information and Communication Sector

The plan addresses: pandemic influenza containment mitigation and recovery wider non-health consequences of a human influenza pandemic Cross-cutting communications mechanisms for enhancing coordination across sectors individual autonomy and community interest Maintaining Non Health Essential Services This Plan will soon be replaced by the Nigeria National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan.

DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL & ASSETS DURING EMERGENCIES
The draft guidelines for the use of Military Personnel and assets during emergency was borne out of the necessity to activate military assistance to civil authority out going through the traditional path of waiting for the President to declare a state of emergency. The guideline recognized the critical role the military plays during civil or communal crisis when military barracks are often besieged by displaced or frightened persons seeking refuge. The guidelines was developed to be used by the 64 military designated Disaster response Units (DRU) strategically located across the country comprised of 32 Army, 16 Naval and 16 Air Force Units

DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF MILITARY PERSONNEL & ASSETS DURING EMERGENCIES
1. Procedure for the Use of Military Assets and Personnel During Emergencies 2. When To Call Out The Armed Forces. 3. Disaster Response Assistance by DRUs 4. Principles of Employment of the DRUs 5. Coordination 6. Command and Control 7. Co-ordination Between Civil Authority / International Agencies and the Armed Forces.

COORDINATION

National Emergency Management Agency Standard Operating Procedures

National Emergency Management Agency Standard Operating Procedures is a guideline on how to manage emergency within or outside the Agency. The procedures are developed specifically to guide NEMA staffs on what to do when in an emergency situation. It was also developed as a template to be replicated by other Ministries, Department and Agencies that currently do not have such a process in place. The document provide procedures to handle common workplace emergencies such as Medical, Fire, Hazardous Material, Abandoned Unidentified Parcels/Mails, Dangerous and Threating Situations, etc.

National Emergency management Agency Standard Operating Procedures

The document provide guidelines in these areas: Guide to Emergency Preparedness What every Staff should know What every Staff should do Personal Emergency Response Kit Emergency actions to be taken by any Staff at the scene of any incident General emergency procedures to be followed by a staff when he is in the office and Fire alarm sounds continuously. It finally provides essential Telephone numbers of Agencies to be contacted for assistance during emergencies.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This is a tripartite agreement entered into in 2013 between the National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to collaborate in the development, implementation and organization of projects and programmes targeted at sensitizing Nigerian citizenry on environmental and other natural and human induced hazards by way of amongst others: Public enlightenment and awareness campaign on natural and human induced disasters and disaster risk reduction strategies. Early Warning System development, deployment and management Advocacy and information sharing amongst the communities on all environmental hazards.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

 Thank you for your attention