The Director-General, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Abbas Idris, has said that the only way to reduce loss during disasters is to ensure that public assets are properly insured.
Idris said the benefits of insuring government assets were immense, stressing that it minimised losses and wastes.
The director-general stated this when the newly elected officials of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers led by their President, Mr. Ayo Soderu, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
He said it had become imperative for the council to market itself like other professions.
He advised the insurance brokers against waiting for a legislation to compel people to buy insurance as this is contrary to open market economic system.
Idris said, “People do not really understand the importance of taking an insurance and how it can help to ameliorate sad situations which lead to temporary and permanent disabilities from accidents, or death of a loved one. A major way of reducing cost and losses during disasters is by insuring public assets.”
The DG challenged the NCRIB to enlighten the public on the benefits of insurance and called on Nigerians to embrace insurance to minimise losses.
He also called for a new and effective national strategy on disaster management to ensure a coordinated and robust approach to emergency situations in order to prevent loss of lives and materials associated with disasters in the country.
He blamed the lack of an articulate plan for the situation and poor coordination among emergency response agencies, adding that these were being addressed through stakeholders’ meetings and an action plan.
Idris stated that the rapid population growth in the FCT was stretching facilities and generating mountains of waste, noting that the situation had put the FEMA on its toes in order to cope with the challenge.
