NEMA Urges Collective Action Against Disaster Reduction, Prevention

The Coordinator, Na
tional Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja, Mr Ishaya Chonoko, has called for collective action in the reduction, mitigation and prevention of disasters in the country.
Chonoko made the call at a workshop on Comprehensive Disaster Management organised by the NEMA Abuja Operations Office in Abuja last Thursday.
He stressed the need for the harmonisation and implementation of skills and knowledge acquired by stakeholders in disaster management in the FCT.
He said the workshop was organised to build on existing capacities of stakeholders in disaster mitigation, preparedness and response across jurisdictions.
Chonoko also stressed the need for stakeholders to be proactive in the management of disasters in the territory.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would provide a disaster management plan to be adopted by all stakeholders in disaster response in the FCT.
“We hope that the workshop will come up with a plan for disaster mitigation, prevention and response that will be used in the FCT to tackle occurrences,’’ he said.
Chonoko advised residents of the FCT living in flood plains to avoid engaging in activities that could lead to flooding in such areas.
Also speaking, the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mr Abbas Idris, called for adequate provision by relevant agencies to address problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
According to Idris, most IDPs are left to their fate in camps after the initial distribution of relief materials by emergency and donor agencies.
He said permanent IDP camps should be provided across the country, to discourage the use of schools and other government institutions for the accommodation of IDPs.
He said that FEMA had begun the sensitisation of residents on measures to be taken to avoid disaster occurrences in the territory.
Our correspondent reports that stakeholders at the workshop were drawn from the FCT Fire Service, FRSC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Police.
Others are representatives from the General Hospitals in the FCT and the National Orientation Agency.