Nema august2013

A Publication of the National Emergency Management Agency Mohammed Kanar

Mohammedkanar@yahoo.com

Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013

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EU TO SUPPORT NIGERIA ON FLOOD MANAGEMENT

Ag. Zonal Coordinator

Musa Ilalla Ag. Zonal Coordinator

Musahk123@yahoo.com

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08033146397

he European Union has offered to provide technical assistance to support the early recovery of communities that were ravaged by the recent flood disasters in the

country.

Responding, Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, appreciated the kind support of the European Union, noting that it will boost efforts of the government at assisting the affected

A team of experts from the Union has arrived Nigeria to meet with relevant agencies and other stakeholders and visit some of the affected communities.

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Godwin Tepiko Assistant Zonal Coordinator South-South

During a visit by the team to the head office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, the team leader, Mr. Kimmo Tuominen, said the assistance would be based on analysis of specific aspects of the emergency management structures and procedures to be assessed by them.

European Union Technical Assessment Team with NEMA officials during their visit to Kogi State

He said the team would also identify lessons learnt from the previous floods, assess the risk and map out hydro-geological risks and related industrial hazards, adding that the EU was interested in the “emergency planning and procedures including coordination and communication between the different regional stakeholders.�

Mr Tuominen said the European Union will further assist in the areas of flood information management especiallyin the areas of forecasting and alerts procedures as well as early warning systems.

communities and appealed that the support be sustained.

Sani Sidi said Nigeria is now better prepared to tackle disasters including this year's predicted flood.

He urged the team, however, to identify some of the gaps that have not been adequately addressed.

The team will visit some of the affected communities in Kogi and Benue States where they will also meet with state authorities.

NEMA decries dumping of refuse in drainages

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has decried the attitude of Gombe residents who dump refuse in drainages.

Hajiya Zainab Umar-Ali, the Assistant Head of Operations, NEMA, Gombe Operations Office, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe that indiscriminate dumping of refuse was causing flood and erosion in thearea.

She said while government had provided drainages around the state capital, it was unfortunate that residents were not complementing the efforts by adopting proper waste disposal.

Many big drains and gutters have been constructed in the town but people carelessly dump refuse in them; they do not put the refuse in appropriate places. Also, some households are fond of heaping building items, such as sand and gravel, near the

drains and when it rains they are washed into the gutters thereby blocking the drainage system,” she said.

The officer advised the residents to clear drains around them to prevent flooding. She said the agency had embarked on intensive campaigns against such attitude directly and through the Grassroots Emergency Vanguard of the agency, saying that the campaigns would be sustained.

She also advised people to report cases of emergencies in their areas to the local government emergency offices or State Emergency Management Agency with a view to assessing such emergencies for possible assistance.

Disaster management is the concern of everybody; we have to take care of the drains. “Do not build on waterways because it will be damaged when it rains,” Umar-Aliyu advised.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 1.CALL NEMA EMERGENCY CALL CENTER ON: 0800CALL NEMA or (080022556362) -TOLL FREE 0929O5777 092905895 08032003555 2. To give the following information: a. Location of incidence, Accident or Emergency. b. Name of street or location. c. Prominent landmarks. d. Type of Emergency (Fire, Road, Accident, Floods e.t.c ). e. Number of people involved. f. What actions are being taken by agencies on the site, no. of Ambulances e.t.c. g. Any other useful information.

PLEASE NOTE THAT QUICK AND CLEAR INFORMATION WILL ENHANCE QUICK RESPONSE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE SAVING OF PRECIOUS LIVES.

for the sake of the distressed

All correspondences should be addressed to: Public Relations Division, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, No. 8, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

E-mail: nemapress@yahoo.com

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alhassan Nuhu SUB-EDITOR Manzo Ezekiel PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sani Datti

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 2

CAMERAMAN Gerald Oparachukwu CIRCULATION: Nuhu Mohammed CONSULTING EDITOR: Innocent Adikwu

NEMA develops disaster recovery document, trains SEMAs

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he National Emergency Management A g e n c y (NEMA) has developed a National Disaster Recovery Strategy and Framework (NDRSF) and commenced special training on Camp Coordination and Camp Management for stakeholders to strengthen preparations ahead of the predicted 2013 flood and other disasters.

Group photograph of participants at the validation of draft National Disaster Recovery Framework

Presenting the draft NDRSF for adoption by the stakeholders at a workshop in Abuja, Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, said the document was developed in collaboration with the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) and The World Bank to expedite the process of recovery from disaster situations andcomplement other existing policy frameworks for operational efficiency and effectiveness of disaster management in Nigeria.

The DG who was represented by the Ag. Director of Training, Engineer Daniel Balarabe Gambo urged the Facilitator at Camp Coordination and Management workshop organises stakeholders to make their inputs to for SEMA’s which took place in Lagos and Lafia, Nassarawa the document designed to specifically address the scourge of flood and itsrelated impact and to also provide a On the training of the stakeholders on Camp “new road map capable of preventing possible Coordination and Camp Management, he said it was effects of floods and associated risks in 2013 and targeted at the State Emergency Management beyond rainy seasons.”

Agencies (SEMAs) and scheduled to hold in Lagos He said “the strategic priorities of the Agency is to reposition the country by providing solid foundation andframeworks for building national and community resilience to reduce all related disaster risks towards actualizing the gains of any developmental strides aimed at total transformation for rapid socioeconomic development of our great country.”

for the Southern states andAkwanga, Nassarawa State for the North.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from the State Emergency Management Agencies and development partners including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 3

Evacuation drills organised for workers in Enugu

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s the nation continues to face serious security challenges in parts of the country, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has staged a one-day emergency evacuation drill for federal civil servants in Enugu State, just as it called for a more robust synergy among stakeholders in disaster management.

FLOOD: NEMA urges government, stakeholders to collaborate

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he Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sidi, has urged governments at all levels and stakeholders to collaborate to enhance the resilience of citizens vulnerable to flood.

“Floods are a natural phenomenon which should not necessarily result in disasters if people and their property are not vulnerable.

“We must, therefore, ensure that people don't build on flood plains, ensure that all drains are cleared and all impediments to free flow of rivers and flood water are removed.”

The DG disclosed that over seven million people were affected by the 2012 flood disaster, with 2.5 million displaced, 363 persons killed, and 597,476 houses destroyed.

The programme, which was held at the Federal Secretariat Enugu, and coordinated by the South-East office of the Agency, commenced with a controlled bomb explosion exercise by the police anti-bomb squad.

Stakeholders responding to victims during Emergency evacuation drill organised for Civil Servants at Federal Secretariat, Enugu In response to the explosion, various emergency and disaster management “The idea is to prepare our minds should this kind of organisations, including NEMA rescue team, thing happens; do Boko Haram members issue Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) alerts when they want to strike; does fire or flood and its anti-terrorism unit, Enugu State Emergency issue people with notices, he asked, while stressing Response Team, the Red Cross Society and Fire that “we are living in an environment where we all Service, among others, arrived at the spot promptly. have to be at alert.

In his speech at the occasion, South East zonal “We noticed here that while the fire was still on some coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Bandele Onimode, workers were busy trying to take photographs; these explained that the agency decided to embark on the actions could be dangerous during real terror exercise to educate the workers on what they should attack”. do when there is threat of bomb in their environments.

The NEMA south east coordinator admonished them to be familiar with their environment especially He explained that it was also aimed at assessing not the emergency evacuation plan, emergency exits, only the prompt response of the rescue teams but fire alarms and how to use them. also the reactions of those who may have been within the area of the explosion.

Addressing the participants, the officer in charge of the anti-bomb squad in the Enugu State Police “The need for proactive measures in preventing, Command, ASP Joseph Bassey, explained that the responding and mitigating the impacts of such primary duty of the police in the drill was to produce emergencies cannot be overemphasized, he said, the disaster effect. emphasizing the need for collaboration among employers, employees and critical stakeholders in “What we did here today was a controlled explosion; disaster management. actually it was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). We used a radio asIED, so we have to be “It is in view of the above that NEMA in its careful how we use telephone, radio and anything coordinating and collaborative effort is presenting that has to do with electricity” the security operative the tips which if adhered to would go a long way in advised mitigating the impact of these emergencies.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 4

He disclosed that the agency had recruited and trained Grassroots Emergency Volunteers and established Disasters Risk Management Centres in six federal universities, among other initiatives designed to respond to disasters.

DG’s representative, Mr Kayode Fagbemi delivering a key note address to participants at 2 day Zonal Flood Awareness Campaign organized by Gombe Operation Office, Jalingo, Taraba State

The DG, represented by Mr Fagbemi Kayode, Deputy Director Planning, Research and Forecasting in the agency, made the call during a flood awareness campaign for early warning and early action for all stakeholders.

The campaign was organised by the agency's Gombe Operations Office and held in Jalingo, Taraba State. The DG who described the 2012 flood disaster that ravaged many states as unprecedented, said it should serve as a wake-up call to governments and communities to take responsibility for disaster risk reduction.

In his address at the occasion, the Acting Gov. of Taraba, Alhaji Garba Umar, commended the Federal Government for granting N400 million Flood Intervention Fund to the

state last year.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Garvey Yawe, the acting governor said: “We register our appreciation to the Federal Government for assisting the victims of the 2012 flood disaster with N400 million.”

He said the money had assisted in reducing the hardships experienced by the affected communities.

Mr Jediel Apollos, the agency's Head of Gombe Operations Office, urged citizens to respect the 2013 NIMET seasonal rainfall predictions, noting that the 2012 flood disaster was still fresh.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 5

100 grassroots volunteers trained

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North-Central zone has trained 100 members of the Grassroots Emergency Volunteer Corps (GEVC) in disaster management and risk reduction.

Muhammed Abdulsalam, the North-Central zonal coordinator of the Agency, in an address at the training exercise held in Lafia, said participants were drawn from floodprone communities in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau.

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja Operations Office, has commenced training of youths and stakeholders under its emergency management volunteer programme.

Group photograph of Grassroots Volunteers trained in Emergency Management at Lafia, Nassarawa State

Abdulsalam said the workshop was aimed at raising the consciousness of the people on proactive disaster management and risk reduction through community collaboration for effective disaster prevention, mitigation andcoordination among members of vulnerable communities.

He commended the volunteers for choosing to contribute their quota in saving lives, adding that volunteerism is an integral part of disaster management as disaster affects all and should be everybody's business.

He pointed out that the since disasters occur in

communities, the volunteers would serve as first responders and as the link between the communities and disaster management agencies, hence the need for the training. ``It is my belief that the training will inform and prepare volunteers about disaster prevention, mitigation and response to ensure a disaster resilient society, � Abdulsalam said.

The training featured paper presentations on disaster management; Basic First Aid; Casualty handling in Emergency, amongst others.

It would be recalled that several communities in states within the North-Central zone witnessed severe flooding with devastating effects in 2012.

NEMA BEGINS FLOOD AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN KUBWA

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NEMA TRAINS 70 YOUTH VOLUNTEERS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja Operations Office, has commenced flood awareness campaigns in flood-prone areas of the Federal Capital Territory

(FCT).

The Assistant Zonal Coordinator, Abuja Operation Office, Mr Slaku Bijimi, made this known during a volunteer sensitisation walk in Kubwa, FCT. Bijimi said it was aimed at creating awareness on the 2013 rainfall prediction by the Nigerian Metrological agency (NIMET) and attitudinal change on the part of residents who have continued to dump refuse into drainages, thereby causing blockages that were capable of causing flood.

The assistant coordinator, who urged residents to ensure clean and tidy environments by getting rid of stagnant water, warned them on the dangers of erecting structures on waterways.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NEMA, in an effort to overcome some flood challenges, embarked upon the training of youth and executive volunteers to assist in emergencies.

Bijimi said 150 people participated at the sensitisation walk. The participants included executive volunteers, which comprised medical practitioners willing to offer free medical assistance during emergencies and NYSC members.

He said the campaign would be taken to Abaji and Gwagwalada Areas of the FCT.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 6

The Coordinator, Mr Ishaya Chonoko, said the training targeted 70 youths each from Kwara, Niger, Kogi and the FCT. Chonoko said the involvement of youths in disaster management was informed by the need to prevent disasters following the 2013 NIMET annual rainfall prediction and as they were always among the first to get to disasterscenes. ``We decided to involve youths in emergency volunteer service so that they can channel their patriotism to the country into saving lives. ``We believe that if they are well trained and equipped with the necessary kits they will be vanguards of prompt emergency response and a means of saving lives,'' he said.

Youth Voluteers sensitizing flood prone communities in Abuja

Desk Officer, Idris said the office was working with other stakeholders, especially NEMA to safeguard the lives of residents and visitors into the territory.

He said the NIMET rainfall prediction for 2013 required the involvement of all and sundry to curb the menace.

The Principal Programme Officer of FCT National Orientation Agency, Mr Eben Kolawole, said the office had commenced awareness campaigns on the need for residents of the FCT to have a positive attitude toward disasterprevention.

According to him, volunteerism is an integral part of disaster management while capacity building among stakeholders is a way of equipping emergency volunteers to carry out the task of saving lives.

He advised people against the construction of structures and dumping of refuse on water channels capable of causing flood disasters in the FCT.

He said the training was also an effort at ensuring that the scale of destruction was reduced to the barest minimum if floods occur.

He appealed to states and local governments to replicate the idea of engaging youths as emergency responders in their various domains.

Earlier, the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FCT EMA), Malam Abbas Idris, commended NEMA's efforts at reducing casualty rates through the engagement of youths in emergency response.

Represented by Mrs Nnenna Ochea, FCT NEMA

Representative of the Nigerian Red Cross Society FCT chapter, Mr Simeon Nwaubani, pledged his organisation'scommitment to building an enduring partnership with stakeholders in emergency response.

He said the Red Cross would continue to empower emergency response volunteers through training and provision of first aid kits for usage during emergencies.

The workshop was aimed at search and rescue and evacuation of flooded communities, camp management and the use of First Aid for drowning victims, among others.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 20 August 2013 / Page 7