Risk Management and Disaster Response: The story of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
There is growing concern over the environment and Global warming, which pose a threat to humanity and other creatures sharing the planet with us. Our country is not insulated.
Nigeria is at the centre of extreme weather impacts with drought and desertification in the north, gully erosion in the east, coastal erosion in the south and flooding affecting every state of the country. As a country with majority farmers, we have to deal with shorter rainy seasons and longer dry Spells which are threats to food security.
While some of these disasters are natural, many others are man-made or aggravated by human activities, such as deforestation (tree felling), refuse dumping in canals, building on waterways, etc.
Our country has also had many collapsed buildings, claiming lives and property.
In Lagos alone 152 buildings collapsed between 2005 and 2021. Just a fortnight ago another two-storey building collapsed killing a couple of people and destroying property. Such disasters occur almost every quarter.
These are often associated with non-adherence to stipulated guidelines, use of quacks, use of sub-standard materials, etc.
We also have one of the highest numbers of Road traffic accidents (WHO names Nigeria as the 2nd most Dangerous place to drive).
Records from the Federal Road Safety Commission show that from 2010 to 2021 about 140 thousand RTA occurred, 68 thousand People lost from them, and 412 thousand people sustained various degrees of injuries. The casualty in total is 480 thousand people.
Over speeding, drunk driving, unlicensed drivers, uncertified vehicles (road worthiness) bad roads, night driving and reckless driving are said to be responsible.
As a national broadcaster, it has always been our duty to do something to address all these and had through our programmes such as;
Ø ENVIRONMENT MATTERS,
Ø TUESDAY LIVE,
Ø HEALTH OPTION,
Ø DATELINE 360,
Ø PLATFORM,
Ø LATE EDITION,
Ø GOOD MORNING NIGERIA.
Thanks to these programmes and Special news reports, a lot has been done to educate and enlighten the public….
To continue reading…..
Please click on the link below
African Union of Broadcasting's Disasters Risk Reduction Symposium
Dakar, Senegal. June 2022.
Presentation:
MILESTONES ON OUR DRR JOURNEY.
THE STORY OF THE NIGERIAN TELEVISION AUTHORITY- NTA.
Author: MOHAMMED ALI, for the NTA
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