By Segun Imohiosen
In time like this when natural disasters of an unusual propensity and magnitude hit people in different parts of the world, it calls for caution on the part of other nations who are not directly affected. There is a very thin cord or line that divides or separates these countries from each other. And that simply translates to mean that what affects A on that side can affect B today on the other side considering the geographic enclave in which they all subsist and exist. It cannot be taken for granted in terms of proximity. The fact that IT has reduced the entire world into a global village does not make the countries to be far apart in terms of mileage or the kilometers that separates them. The waters are linked somehow and we all exist on the same earth, however, there is a need for the rest of the world to begin to put in place structures that can cater for eventualities in the face of emergencies and disaster.
What happened in Haiti while the people were busy minding their businesses without an iota of thoughtof such occurrence is what will happen elsewhere in the same vein as the people will not in the heavens expect that such disaster to befall them. It was reported that Haiti for the last 200 years never witnessed that kind of a thing. Nobody is praying for this to happen but if it has happened in these places, there is the propensity that it may happen in any other places.
Our earth is weak owing to the numerous human activities in technological research, economic activities and other aspects of endeavour in search of a good life and living. Permit me to say that research into the nuclear power "thing", I am not a nuclear scientist, but all of this to a large extent and some other human activities have direct impact on the already weakened earth due to experience over time in research materials read. Moreover, as an environmental communicator over the years, some things in relations to environmental phenomenal could be taken for granted as trends have proved. For this, we need to be prepared for eventualities because some of them may never warn us before they struck. The Haiti saga is an example.
I woke up this morning to search the internet to see that Japan has suffered yet another quake in the south coastal part. Sometimes some of us are wont to taking such for granted to say 'is it not Japan' that it is a regular occurrence in those places, even China; they are all on the edge of tectonic plates that every so often slips which results in earthquake, it is a usual experience. Unfortunately, we may be making a huge mistake here because if it is not Asia today, it may be Africa tomorrow. One can conclude that the distance from these places to Africa is too far but I tell you that those seeming distances are nothing when you look at them from environmental angle and geographically, in minutes what happened in those places can happen here.
This morning I read this report "TOKYO – Japanese officials issued a tsunami warning Sunday for several small islands after a strong earthquake shook an area off the country's southern coast. The Meteorological Agency said the earthquake hit at 3:10 p.m. (0610 GMT) and registered magnitude 6.6. The U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 6.4. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The Japanese agency said the tsunami was expected to be about 1.6 feet (50 centimeters) high. The quake hit 69 miles (110 kilometers) off the southern coast of Miyakojima island, in southern Japan, at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), it said. The small island is about 1,120 miles (1,800 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the western port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people"
It is heartwarming as it was that casualties and damages were not reported. But then this is not enough to make the world go to sleep because you never can tell what may happen next. Although experience has shown that this is one occurrence that the people out there are most familiar with. As such, they would have measures put in place as buffers to handle this natural disaster. But unfortunately the same cannot go for the rest of the world particularly Africa. When you look at the case of Haiti in terms of the geographical placement being close to the developed countries, they couldn't have had any measure put in place since they never expected to have such experience.
This is one challenge to the African nations. On the issue of climate change that is the world most challenging environmental concern of the millennium, particularly with the melting ice, anything could happen ranging from ocean surge, flooding and an unusual attendant environmental damage that will be traceable to the environmental imbalance created by climate change.
Nigeria, I pray will not experience any of these natural disasters. I have followed very akin the activities of NEMA and its preparedness to address any emergency and disaster. One is fascinated by the fact that their disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the early warning alert mantra are worthy of praise. This is one agency that is prepared to help the nation come out of any environmental emergency or disaster within the ambit of their resources.But as it is, let us call a spade a spade, they need more than what they have presently as structures and equipment. Since this organization is saddled with the responsibility of emergency and disaster management, the government of Nigeria needs to show more interest and give more support for it to perform creditably.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), I understand trained about 65 search and rescue experts from different arms of the government by some Israelis nationals sometime last year. These are "world class trained personnel" as some section of the media reported. They are drawn from the Air Force, NDLEA, Civil Defence Corps, FRSC, NEMA staff, Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and others.In fact, it was said that about 12 are soon going to be in Israel for further training. This is a proactive measure taken by the agency on behalf of the government so to say. But the administration needs to assist further with regards to the numbers of trained personnel. With the population of Nigeria, God forbid we undergo Haiti experience. This number of people is too meager to handle a disaster of such enormousness. In fact, the trouble will be too outrageous. This is the more reason why this new experience of Japan calls for preparation, readiness to combat disaster on the part of Nigeria.
More personnel will need to be trained in search and rescue. It is not in doubt that the DG of NEMA, Air vice Marshal Audu-Bida a (rtd) will make his experience as a search and rescue expert and a pilot to bear on this particular area, as to understand the specifics of this training to help the country be in readiness.These disasters sometimes do not warn in earnest but with keen interest, tell tales are often there to serve as warning signs. And those saddled with different responsibility of overseeing the well being of the nation should be at alert. It is not in doubt that God has really blessed our country. The fact that we are not prone to natural disaster does not mean we should not prepare.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the man at helms of affairs in the agency has the needed experience for the agency to fly. But the government needs to equip this agency, God forbid we have the experience of Haiti, I tell you the sub-Sahara Africa will not be able to help us talk less contain us. The challenge that faces Nigeria face the rest of Africa, they just must know that now.Irrespective of the fact that Accra has become home to so many Nigerian businesses and Nigerians, when trouble erupts, we will definitely overrun all of them, none of these cities can contain Nigerians. The more reason why the Nigerian government should wake up to her God-given responsibility both to her people within and the rest of the Nigerians in diasporas and Africa. Being a big-brother in African continent, Nigeria's position cannot be downplayed no matter they say out there.
My take is simple considering the point I have reiterated over times. I once emphasize in a piece in my column "cynosure" and a feature on the post Copenhagen experience on climate change in the African Leadership Magazine the need for Africa to come up with their own Africa Summit on Climate Change that will specifically address their own environmental problems and not the general that does not consider Africa as key in the affairs of the rest of the world. We all know what happened during the Copenhagen Summit. The same thing goes on this particular issue on the earth quake. There is need for the government of Nigeria to spend more money on the right and needed structures and the organizations like National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ministry of Environment to be able to prepare proactively for any emergency or disaster in case it happens or otherwise.Although, by extension, Africa as a whole must wake up to the reality of environmental changes and challenges that could result in emergencies and disasters.
Segun Imohiosen writes for African Leadership