By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Stakeholders have called for an urgent overhaul of Benue State’s disaster preparedness and emergency response frameworks, describing current policies as outdated, ineffective, and ill-equipped to address today’s gender and climate realities.
This call to action was made at the weekend during a dissemination meeting on the Review of Gender-Inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Response in Benue State, where a major report was presented, indicating systemic weaknesses in the state’s disaster management approach.
Mrs. Comfort Ayua, who led the report presentation based on engagements with focus groups, stakeholders, and relevant documents, pointed to glaring gaps, including obsolete policies and disjointed emergency response strategies that have led to poor outcomes in past crises.
“Our findings show that in the face of emergencies, responses are often uncoordinated and not inclusive, especially of vulnerable groups like women and children. To change this, we need a comprehensive and inclusive policy that aligns with global best practices,” she said.
Oluwatosin Alagbe, Head of Programme at Education as a Vaccine (EVA), which supported the review, echoed similar concerns, warning that outdated policies not only hinder effective emergency responses but also stall efforts to achieve inclusive climate justice.
“We cannot transform the climate change narrative or foster inclusive disaster response mechanisms if the policies guiding our actions are relics of the past,” Alagbe posited.
Executive Director of the Environment and Climate Change Amelioration Initiative (ECCAI), Mrs. Victoria Esa, emphasised that while ECCAI, under the African Activist for Climate Justice (AACJ) project, has empowered over 150 women with climate-smart agriculture skills and mentored over 90 students through Climate Justice Clubs, these grassroots efforts must be backed by solid, gender-responsive policies.
This meeting is not just about celebrating progress,nit’s about pushing for structural reforms that ensure no one is left behind when disaster strikes,” she added.
Meanwhile, participants at the concluded that without immediate policy reform, Benue State risks continuing a cycle of reactive and ineffective disaster management, especially as climate-related risks increase in frequency and intensity.
