NASRDA provides statistics on disasters 

Precious Yusuf 

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), revealed that it has been availing relevant agencies of government with data on natural disasters including flooding.

The Head,Media and Corporate Communications of NASRDA,Dr Felix Alle,reacting to the contributions of the agency to pockets of flooding in the country made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

He recalled that in September, the agency held a workshop in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders where it was declared that Lokoja, Kogi would be flooded.

Alle said that the workshop had  created awareness on recent technological breakthroughs in the use of space science and technology for disaster management, emergency operation centres and decision support systems deployed for large disasters particularly floods.

“We believe that providing these data is one strategic area we can make our impact felt and we do that by giving early warnings especially to the appropriate government agencies. We let them know what exactly will happen in some of these areas prone to floods,”Alle said that he had forewarned the governments about the incoming disasters. 

“Also, because of the peculiar nature we find ourselves in some states of the federation, some of these communities were highlighted with a focus on Lokoja. Then, we called on appropriate government agencies including NEMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), to be aware of the inherent dangers to be able to know how to map out strategies to address them,”Alle said.

He added that the agency has been monitoring the situation on a daily basis and gathering relevant information needed to predict and prevent the floods. 

The official further said that space agencies globally function to make available the relevant data, while the function of relevant agencies is to take action. 

Alle said: “NASRDA has been doing its best and we will continue to do our best for the progress, peace and development of this country.”