The Editor, THISDAY, The Sunday Newspaper, Mr. Tunde Rahman, Wednesday described the media as an indispensable factor in the handling of emergency situations, adding that the former should partner the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in disaster management.
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Rahman made the call in his lecture titled:
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"Emergencies, Humanitarian Action and Crisis Triangle, held in Lagos during a two-day workshop organised by NEMA on the Role of the Media in Disaster Management.
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The editor said the media is an undeniable important player in the disaster management matrix especially in the area of risk reduction advocacy, disaster mitigation preparedness and response.
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He said: "I noticed that a couple of days ago, NEMA also organised a forum in Abuja where it unfolded what it called the Early Warning Message developed by the agency and other stakeholders to enlighten the general public on the implications of the 2013 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
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"In that prediction, NIMET had alerted the nation that this year's rainfall would be similar to that of 2012 during which many states were heavily flooded, lives lost, thousands displaced and property destroyed.
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"So NEMA deserves commendation for creating public awareness about the likely adverse effects of NIMET's SRP and how to prepare ahead for them. I believe this is part of the agency's advocacy for disaster mitigation and management."
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He added, "NEMA has identified the place of the media as an important player in the disaster management matrix especially in the area of risk reduction advocacy, disaster mitigation preparedness and response.
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"Their interaction is becoming increasingly important to the outcomes of effective humanitarian action.
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Gone are the days when success was determined essentially by humanitarian organisations and their efforts.
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"The news media have become a major humanitarian actor in its own right, helping to frame the context in which governments formulate policy and how humanitarian action is mounted."
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He noted that in carrying out their functions, individuals from all the three groups- government policy makers, humanitarian bodies and news media- seek contact and cooperation with the each other.
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He however admitted that there are constraints and limitations on government's response to emergency situations.
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He said, "The media and humanitarian organisations may criticise governments for not responding effectively to complex emergencies, but there are, in fact, major constraints and limitations on government action which include, political constraints, organisational and resource limitations."
So many people don't know how vital the media and press is. They can make and break things. Nigerians need to know that