Reps advocate new national policy on disaster insurance scheme

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of the motion sponsored by Hon. Biodun Omoleye Francis.

In his lead debate, Hon. Francis lamented that billions of Nigerian taxpayers’ funds are allocated to addressing natural and artificial disasters, yet no significant relief has been provided to affected victims.

According to him, “Billions of private and public infrastructures are destroyed annually by the combined effects of floods, fire, and storms of unimaginable proportions, hence the need to address the noticeable gaps in disaster mitigation management in Nigeria.

“The House is aware that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), saddled with the management of disasters in Nigeria, has used insufficient resources to manage disasters, often resulting in insignificant budgets and unable to mitigate the actual effects.

“The House is informed that the affected victims are worst off after each disaster mitigation exercise as hopes and expectations are dashed, leading to huge frustration and suicide contemplations by many, who are often occupationally and habitually displaced.

“The House is concerned that the rise in unwholesome practices by hoodlums and bandits may be linked to the frustrations of victims whose livelihoods, such as farming and animal husbandry, have been lost without future assistance.

“The House is worried that Institutions responsible for risk management during emergencies are not fulfilling their expected responsibilities.

“The House is cognizant of the need to connect the relevant agencies to transform their risk-bearing capacity into multilateral risk-bearing capacity and influence that can put smiles on the faces of victims.

“The House recognises that bold steps must be taken to secure citizens’ futures and address disasters affecting everyone, regardless of class, creed, or gender, and evolve a new mitigation approach.

The House therefore urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ministry of Environment, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Fire Services Department, National Human Rights Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Insurance Corporation and Representatives of Insurance firms to re-examine the current disaster policy framework for National Development and consider implementing a new national disaster insurance scheme to ensure public confidence.

The lawmakers also urged National Orientation Agency, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the public enlightenment unit of the National Emergency Management Agency to embark on public enlightenment and sensitisation programmes nationwide in all Nigerian languages to educate the people on early warning signals, especially on fire during the coming harmattan season.

To this end, the House referred the motion to the joint Committees on National Emergency Management, Environment, Finance, Human Rights as well as that on Legislative Compliance and reported back within four weeks for further legislative action.