NEMA Advocates Insurance Cover against Disasters

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advocated the importance of Insurance Cover for traders and small business for quick recovery after natural and man-indicused disasters, especially against market fire, floods and building collapse.

This advocacy was made at the inauguration of Grassroot Emergency Volunteer Corps in Ikom Local Government area of Cross River State at the weekend (June 26, 2009) by the Director General of NEMA, AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (rtd).

The NEMA boss who was represented by Director of Finance and Account of the agency, Mr. Benjamin Haahongon Achiatar said that over the years Nigerians have had to rely on shere luck and providence to save them from disasters with little or no help coming from individuals and even rescue agencies which lack the capacity and wherewithal to intervene in such difficult moments and compensate victims.

According to Benjamin Achiatar disasters derail socio-economic progress, and put millions of people into dire poverty or make the poor even poorer. He emphasised that NEMA and state emergency agencies are not compensating agencies as they only provide relief assistance but do not offer compensation to victims. The assistance usually comes in form of relief materials to relieve victims from loses especially in the case of flood, building collapses and fire incidence this may not resuscitate livelihood.

He said NEMA is partnering with insurance firms to provide insurance cover for traders and owners of small businesses against fire and flood disasters so as to enable victims to recover their loses immediately after the incidence. Insurance cover can resuscitate livelihood. It is a public knowledge that the best fire fighting technique is prevention and the best strategy for recovery is insurance cover.

Mr. Achiatar said it is the responsibility of the market authorities to insure the markets while the traders insure their wares and properties. Through this, market authorities will receive claims to restore the market structure in earnest while the traders will use their claims to bounce back to business. This is the best recovery strategy from market fire disasters all over the world.

In his remark at the occasion, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Cross River State, Mr. Fidelis Ugbo said the need to systematically reduce the increased impact of disaster is steadily gaining recognition and commitment of government’s world wide. He therefore commended NEMA for establishing the Grassroots Emergency Management Corps throughout all the 774 local government councils in Nigeria and empowering them with the basic skills and knowledge of disaster management and risk reduction.

Yushau A. Shuaib
Head of Press and Public Relations
GSM: 0803-5555-999