NEMA Tasks States On Disaster Handling

The National Emer
gency Management Agency (NEMA), has charged  state governments in Nigeria, especially those in the South East to always make adequate budgetary provision for disaster handling in their annual budget proposal.
NEMA reasoned that the call became necessary because strengthening and proper funding of State Emergency Management Agencies, (SEMAs) would go a long way in reducing pressure and over dependency on the agency.
Making their feelings known Tuesday in his office in Enugu, the South- East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Bandele, Abdulahi Onimode, reviewed activities of the agency within the zone in 2013, and its  programme for 2014.
According to him, “it is high time governments at all levels in Nigeria begin to see disaster as a security issue and not mere environmental problem”.
“The federal government alone does not have the capacity of shouldering disaster problems and challenges in Nigeria, due to its capital intensive nature, hence the need for local and state governments to always play their expected role on the issue.
“Disaster management I must tell you, is quite enormous, multi- sectoral , and capital intensive across the globe including Nigeria, and that is why the local and state governments must always show serious commitment on the issue”.
The South East NEMA  boss had also used the forum to advocate for more synergy between the agency and other key stakeholders in disaster handling, especially security agencies.
He revealed that 2012 was a hectic year for the agency, following the near overwhelming flood disaster challenge that befell parts of Nigeria, including states within the south east zone, such as Anambra.
Despite all odds,he went on, the South East NEMA zonal office had continued to do its  best in tackling disaster issues in its areas of jurisdiction.
He added that though all “we have achieved was made possible because of the tremendous support we always get from our workaholic and dynamic Director- General, Alhaji Sani Sidi”.
While assuring that his policy thrust for 2014, would be to consolidate on the gains of 2013, the zonal coordinator, however, enumerated  some of the feats recorded by the zone during the year under review, to include training of scores of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) personnel in all states of the  zone,  setting up of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) clubs in secondary schools within the zone,  delivering of relief materials to disaster affected communities, setting up of National Youth service Corps (NYSC) Disaster volunteer bodies, disaster sensitasation/enlightenment workshops for stakeholders, on health related disease, among others.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State with members of Imo State Non-Statutory Judicial Service Commission during their inauguration in Owerri last Monday.