(http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/West-AFrica-flood.jpg)The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advocated a stronger and co-ordinated regional mechanism to reduce disasters in West Africa. (http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/West-AFrica-flood-300x180.jpg) (http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/West-AFrica-flood.jpg)Addressing participants at the 7th regional consultation on natural disasters in West Africa, NEMA's Director-General, Muhammed Sani Sidi said the development of a strategic partnership initiative to foster regional co-operation is critical to mitigate the threat of disaster. The Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia urged member states to enforce environment impact assessment in communities to further avert flood disaster which affected about 5million people in the region in 2012. 18million people across the Sahel were reportedly in dire food crisis while floods affected over 5million people in West Africa including 3.5 million in Nigerian. Other ECOWAS member states advocated that effort should be combined with long term strategies to reduce future risk and build resilience.
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