Thomas Abi Jr|16 October 2015|4:40am
The International Day for Disaster Reduction was adopted on the 22 December,1989, during the United Nations General Assembly with a resolution that October 13th be known as the World International Day for Disaster Reduction. This year's celebration came to me as a surprise because I had forgotten totally that it was the world's day for disaster reduction until a reckless driver hit my car from behind then it took me aback and I remembered that it was actually world's day for disaster reduction.
According to the Wikipedia, disaster risk reduction is the systematic approach to identifying and accessing and reducing the risk of disaster. It aims to reduce socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster as well as dealing With the environmental and other hazard that trigger them. After having a broad knowledge of what disaster risk reduction really means, I said to myself that Cross River State needs re- orientation. The State is not safe for her citizens. Driving on Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, what immediately welcomes you is the heavy duty trucks packed along the highway. The trucks come to Calabar to convey petroleum products to other States of the federation. Due to the unavailability of where to pack and wait for products they have resulted to packing on the highway, putting the People of the State at a risk of having an inferno or the trucks falling on motorists who ply the road.
It is very unfortunate that Cross Riverians have been subjected to high level of risk in the State. The trucks in recent time have claimed over 50 lives in the State. The question I have always asked myself is, how is Cross River State going to curb disaster in the State with notoriety and reckless nature of the truck drivers.
Another very heartbreaking situation in the State is the issue of lack of bus stops for taxi drivers to drop or convey motorist in the State. Passengers are picked and dropped at undesignated places putting the drivers and the passengers at a risk of been hit by an oncoming vehicle.
The State Capital has experienced a lot of environmental disaster, from floods during the raining season, to erosion, to buildings been submerged by terrible environmental disasters and even the issue of poor town planning in the State.
The People of Cross River State must be trained on disaster prevention. They must be taught on how to avoid disaster. Our women should be taught on how to prevent disaster in the home. It is also on record that 60% of those residing in urban centers in the State use cooking gas, they should be taught on how to manage fire disaster to avert fire out break.
Offices, schools, Churches and other establishments should be properly investigated to ascertain their preparedness in case of an unforeseen circumstance that can result to disaster that can claim lives and property of the People of the State.
The people of Cross River State should be taught on warning signals that can result to disaster. Potholes in the State should be repaired, jingles and advertorials should be carried out to create awareness on the severity of having disaster . There is also the need for the general public to be on alert in order to ward off disaster and reduce the high level of disaster experienced in the State.
We must be knowledgeable on disaster and risk management and how to stop undesirable occurrence in the State. It is our responsibility to work towards the reduction of disaster and other environmental factors that can through the State into darkness.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst/Social Commentator
