NEMA Collaborates With Stakeholders On Disaster Management

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) solicits collaboration among disaster stakeholders on efficient Disaster Management.

Director-General, NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa represented by the Head of NEMA Operations Office, Sokoto, Dr. Kofoworola Soleye, said this at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting in Sokoto on Tuesday.

Soleye stressed the need for a strong partnership between federal, state and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the management of disaster-related issues.

“There is a need to coordinate different response organizations, non-governmental organizations, volunteers and even community in order to achieve the desired result” Soleye said.

According to him, the Federal Government established NEMA to coordinate such activities, urging the development of the same coordination systems at states and local governments.

He added that the interaction would enable stakeholders to identify the most critical disasters, responses, and implementation of national disaster plans.

He urged all stakeholders to identify areas of contributions, enumerate respective facilities available in order to formulate a collaborative platform that will avail NEMA with information to coordinate agencies on responsive emergencies.

In an address, Alhaji Ibrahim Dingyadi, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the state government had always supported effective collaborative measures aimed at averting disasters.

Dingyadi said equipment and necessary logistics were being provided to tackle all forms of disasters wherever such disasters might suddenly occur.

He said SEMA manages six Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps mostly as a result of armed banditry and kidnappings across the state.

The DG emphasized the need of engaging in a peace dialogue with perpetrators’ crimes as obtain on neighboring states in recognition of the magnitude and reoccurring nature of incidences in the state.

Dingyadi said no fewer than 6,485 animals were lost while 80,000 people were affected in Raba, Tureta, Goronyo, Sabon Birni, and Isa local government areas.

He explained that two deaths were recorded as a result of flood occurred in Shagari local government area this year while some incidents of banditry were recorded in Gudu and Kebbe local government areas of recent and casualty figures are being compiled.

Major Yakubu Yakubu, from 26 Battalion of Nigerian Army, said the army provided strategic interventions on disaster management and support all emergency situations in the terms of building collapse, security situation, and others.

The NAN reports that representatives of Federal and State Fire Service, State Ministry of Health, Environment and others made a presentation on various roles and available facilities to support disaster management.

NAN reports that no fewer than 30 stakeholders attended the gathering and have made individual commitments toward taking the right measures to avert disasters in and adopting effective management strategies in the state.
NAN