1,675 Buildings Damaged In South West In Four Months

Director-General, NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that at least 1,657 buildings were seriously destroyed in various disasters in the South Western part of Nigeria in four months.

According to The Punch, NEMA spokesperson, South West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, issued a statement on Sunday, June 28, that the buildings were damaged between March and June, 2015. he added that no fewer than 23 persons lost their lives in the disasters including seven children.

The statement read: “A total of 1,675 houses and 213 shops, were affected by fire and windstorms disasters. We also recorded one suicide attempt and one suicide; one person who climbed a television mast was rescued, while one had died before help could reach him. Ten persons suffered various degree of injuries in the period under review.

“Two hundred fire disasters and several others were handled by the efficient firemen of the Lagos State Fire Service, who have been making effective use of the state-of-the art fire appliances acquired by the state government to attend to fire calls daily.”

It said 430 houses were destroyed during the period in Oyo state. While in Ogun state, 280 houses and 85 shops were reported to have been damaged by the disasters. However, in Lagos state, 989 houses and 219 shops were also destroyed by windstorm and fire disasters, making it the highest on record.

The agency stated that relief materials were provided to victims of the disasters through its state emergency agencies. It added that: “NEMA is hereby appealing to Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest more in disaster risk reduction measures to secure their lives and property.”|

The statement added that: “There is also need for Nigerians to be more safety conscious in the course of their daily activities as fire disaster does not have any season when it occurs. Fire is a good friend if well-managed, and can cause extensive destruction if not properly managed.”

NEMA advised parents and guardians against abandoning their children with strangers as well as being cautious with the use of candles in their homes.

It suggested that as a safety measure, Nigerians should plant trees during rainy season, “to serve as windbreak to reduce the alarming rate of windstorm disasters.”