Governor Ugwuanyi represented by Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, Commissioner for Environment

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has stated the Enugu State government will continue to prioritize disaster management in the state.

He made this known today at the South East regional conference and the inauguration ceremony of the Society of Professional Disaster Risk Managers of Nigeria (SOPDRIMN), held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, Governor Ugwuanyi said as the government had always taken the issues of the welfare, wellbeing and safety of the people of the state very seriously, it was always ready to decisively deal with any disaster situation that would arise in the state.

While noting that no one prayed for disasters to come, however, as this was part of human existence, the state was always promoting preventive measures as part of its proactiveness, while also effectively tackling disaster situations through relevant state agencies, aimed at mitigating the effects on the people.

He said “We are here to affirm our total commitment to issues of disaster occurrence, mitigation and management. We have been doing it in many ways and are ready to help and support stakeholders like SOPDRIMN, in their operations, as the state government will always engage in partnerships that are result oriented for the good of all.”

Speaking further, the Governor observed that with the times being particularly disaster prone, as the global insecurity in terrorism and other social insecurity situations have been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, it therefore should be of utmost concern for everyone to be disaster conscious as a way to manage the delicate and vulnerable situations the world has found itself.

Meanwhile in her welcome speech, the South East Zonal Coordinator of the society, Ogoamaka Ndukwe expressed her profound joy that the long-awaited day was finally a reality and thanked everyone that had found it worthy to be part of that history.

Others who spoke all harped on the need for people to be more safety conscious and be involved in all issues of disaster management as the fall outs are usually widespread in its effects on the social and physical infrastructures of the society.

Safety and disaster management professionals, practitioners and groups like the Federal Fire Service, Road Safety, Civil Defence, among others were in attendance.