Media unpredictability has been identified, as a major catalyst to persistant problems in disaster management.
NEMA Kano-Jigawa territorial Coordinator Dr.Nurudeen Abdullahi, made the indication during a one day Interactive session, on the role of the media in disaster management in Kano.
According to him, most media outfits publicize conflicting or inaccurate information, in relation to disasters.
He highlighted that, the session would create an atmosphere of experience sharing and ideas, that would drive the media to become agents of sensitization on early warning, on the menace of flooding, and other disasters.
” The program is aimed to allow the media to be at the fore front of disaster management by promoting disaster risk reduction and activities”he said.
Also speaking,the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalist Kano chapter, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim stressed that, information is key to disaster management.
He pointed out that, information is a journalism tool utilized to educate the public,saying that, lack of information, leads to misinformation and dis information.
“section 22 of the constitution empowers the media to hold government accountable”he added.
In his paper titled: Disaster management : Between journalism and PR, the editor in chief, PR Nigeria, Malam Yusha’u A. Shu’aib identified, promoting public Awareness, shaping public opinion and influencing decisions, as major objectives of the media.
Other papers presented include: Over view of disaster management in Nigeria by Sulaiman Sa’ad Abubakar from NEMA, Defination of Key terms in emergency by another staff of NEMA, Umar Shitu Madigawa, Humanitarian journalism and conflict sensitive reporting by Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi from PR Nigeria.
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Rabi’atu Abdurrahman, Kola Oyelere, and Bashir Bello, described the workshop as apt.
The event tagged :one day workshop/ interractive session with media Organizations, and spokespersons of response agencies of Kano and Jigawa states, on the role of media/ reporting in disaster management: witnessed large turn out of jounalist officials from civil defence,road safety, fire service, SEMA, redcross and all relevant stakeholders in disaster management.
Cov/Khadija Aliyu.
