NEMA newsletter by Sani Datti

Vol. 5 No. 13 January 2013

Mohammed Kanar

Mohammedkanar@yahoo.com

Vol. 5 No. 13 January 2013

08033035986

NEMA TO TRAIN 154,800 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Musa Ilalla Ag. Zonal Coordinator

Umesi Emenike Zonal Coordinator Godwin Tepiko Assistant Zonal Coordinator South-South

Content Supplied by: NEMA Public Relations Division

Musahk123@yahoo.com

08033146397

NEMA to train 154,800 Volunteers across tThe Country Pg 1 Stakeholders Seek Amendments of NEMA Act pg 2 Residents of Oil Spill Areas advised against Contaminated Air pg 2 Oko-Baba Fire Disaster: Victims, NEMA Commend Fashola pg 3 NEMA rated high in Social Media pg 3 NEMA denies reported killing of 15 worshippers in Borno pg 4 NEMA partners NGOs, others on safety pg 4 3,000 Rendered Homeless By Ebute Meta Fire Disaster pg 4 Take Disaster Mgt Very Seriously, NEMA Charges Governors pg 6 Flood, infernos displace 3m people in South-South in 2012NEMA pg 6 NEMA Provides Relief Materials For Victims Of Communal Clash In Abuja pg 7 South Korea gives rice milling machines to Nigeria flood victims pg 7 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

NEMA DG Muhammad Sani Sidi with Deputy Gov Kaduna State Amd Nuhu Bajoga flaggin off setting up of community resiliece network in the North West Zone

n order to build a culture of p re p a re d n e s s , a n d c o m m u n i t y resilience to disaster in Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has flagged off the training and recruitment of emergency volunteers in each of the 774 local government areas across the country.

The Director General of Muhammad Sani Sidi stated this at the flagging off of the NEMA community resilience network and setting up of community peace brigade in the North West Zone at a ceremony held in Kaduna, adding that the programme would also be launched in all the other geo- political zones. Sani Sidi, disclosed that the agency will continue to work on an existing platform and blue print of recruiting at least 200 emergency volunteers in each of the 774 local government

areas, to have at least 154,800 volunteers and have them integrated into NEMA community resilience network by the end of first quarter of next year. The new programme will enable each community to understand their roles in order to protect and support one another. The DG decried the level of vulnerability to hydro- meteorological hazards in Nigeria which, he described as unacceptably high especially in the local communities. He said those communities whose livelihoods depend mainly on the natural eco-system are extremely susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Sani Sidi said the agency will continue to make our communities safe and happy places to live in by exploiting all available mediums to raise awareness and commitment to the noble idea of volunteerism which is in line with NEMA's vision and mission.

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Stakeholders Seek Amendments of NEMA Act fter a review of the impacts of recent disasters in N i g e r i a , stakeholders in emergency management have adopted a position that the National Assembly should amend the Act that established the N at i o n a l E m e rg e n c y Ma n ag e m e n t Ag e n cy (NEMA) to strengthen its roles in disaster response.

frequency of disasters.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although the plights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is common knowledge to national authorities in Nigeria, unfortunately the national re s p o n s e i s g e n e r a l l y constrained by lack of comprehensive legal and policy frameworks, technical, human, material and financial capacity,â&#x20AC;? Dr The stakeholders, through its Ahmad noted. Therefore, he Technical Working Group, added that NEMA should be have identified areas in the Prof Muhammad Tawfiq Ladan introducing the draft NEMA legally enhanced to handle NEMA Act that require the (amendment) bill 2013 to the participants at the workshop all issues of the IDPs for amendment in a draft bill to being practically efficient be presented to the National of NEMA to include coordination in the and strategically located in the Assembly. Members of the group were management of all types of disasters and management of disasters in the country. drawn from legal profession, legislature, all phases of internal displacement in academia, humanitarian institutions, In his remarks, the Director General of Nigeria. professional groups, judiciary, civil NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said society organizations, among others. Speaking in Abuja during a workshop to for the agency to fully carry out its review the draft amendment, Chairman mandates, there was need for it to be Facilitator of the group, Professor House of Representatives Committee on repositioned and re-strategized for Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan of Faculty of Justice, Dr Ali Ahmad said the issue of effective and efficient management of the Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said internal displacement has become a plights and needs of displaced persons in the focus of the proposed amendment major concern due to the increasing Nigeria. was to expand the mandates and powers

Residents of Oil Spill Areas advised against Contaminated Air he National Emergency Management Agency ( N E M A ) h a s ad v i s e d Nigerians who live in the areas affected by the spilling of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) against inhaling the product.

The South West zonal said that the spillage was as a result of the indiscriminate activities of vandals who left the product to spill into the surrounded areas. It also strongly advised residents of the affected areas not to drink or use the river water, as the

ruptured pipeline is located under the complications. Ogun River. NEMA on getting the alert mobilized NEMA said that the warnings became the safety personnel of the Nigerian necessary as a result of distress calls National Petroleum Corporation from residents of Oluwole Bisiriyu (NNPC) who have almost concluded Street, Ilori Coker crescent, Kayode repair of the ruptured pipeline. The Williams Estate and Akute-Odo area in Federal Government has urged Iju-Ishaga, Lagos over air pollution communities and residents of any area following pipeline vandalism over with high disaster risks to join hands night by vandals. The residents with NEMA in disaster risk reduction complained of serious stomach upset, management as the immediate and nausea and coughing. The agency long time effects of disasters are mostly advised them to seek medical attention very severe on the poor and less s o a s to avo i d f u t u re h e a l t h privileged.

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Oko-Baba Fire Disaster: Victims, NEMA Commend Fashola

ictims of the Oko-Baba fire disaster and the National Emergency Management A g e n c y ( N E M A ) h av e c o m m e n d e d t h e L ag o s S t at e Government for establishing relief camps for them. The victims told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews at the Agbowa Camp site in Ikorodu that the state government had been providing them with food and other basic items to enable them to live normal life. They hailed Gov Babatunde Fashola for showing personal sympathy and

directing relevant agencies to provide immediate succour for the victims of the fire disaster. Yemi Bakare, one of the victims and a divorcee, said that she was in the camp with her four children and that they were being fed well and taken care of. "We are given three meals, drinks and fruits daily, we are really praying for the governor because he is very caring. "I have a shop at Idumota, every day a bus takes us from the camp to Mile 2 and then picks us back to the camp in the evening.

"So, many of us have settled down to normal life," she said. Another victim, Temitope Ajimuda, a 2 6 - y e a r- o l d p r e g n a n t wo m a n corroborated the views of Bakare, saying that she was very comfortable in the camp. "The governor promised to help us after three months; we are enjoying the accommodation. "We pray that the government keeps its promise, so that we can have something to fall back on after camp," Temitope said.

NEMA rated high in Social Media he annual International Disaster Conference Expo (IDCE) was held recently. NEMA's outputs in disaster management through the New Media was noted and appraised during a syndicate/group discussion on Social Media. NEMA was highly rated as the best in Africa among its peers from its regular online mentions.

It was discovered that NEMA had an average of 5000 weekly online mentions. Its various Social Media platforms were also hailed. One of the experts on Facebook modeling who attended the group discussion noted that while the Facebook at the headquarters has more than 8000 fans, the zonal offices have fewer friends. Most of the Facebook account of the zonal offices are nevertheless active and superb in contents, pictures, news, comments and other postings, the expert observed. The following were the statistics on the followers;

NEMA South South Followers 1018 NEMA North East Followers 608 NEMA South East Followers 447 NEMA North West Followers 279 NEMA North Central Followers 270 NEMA South West Followers 260 NEMA Abuja Operation Office 16

The programme held in New Orleans, U.S.A. was not only educative and informative, but there were other side attractions such as social gatherings and lots of seafood.

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Take Disaster Mgt Very Seriously, NEMA Charges Governors

gainst the backdrop of l a st ye a r ' s f l o o d disaster which wrecked havoc in different parts of the country, the Coordinator in charge of National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) in the South East Zone, Dr. Bandele Abdulahi Onimode, has urged state governors and council chairmen in the country, especially those in the disaster prone areas, to start taking issues relating to disaster risk reduction seriously.

The coordinator also urged all tiers of government to assign reasonable budget for disaster management in their areas. Onimode insisted that NEMA alone could not tackle the problem of disaster in the country. “Our state governments must empower and strengthen their respective state emergency management agencies (SEMAs) as well as put in place actions and structures that are capable of reducing disaster risk in the areas”, he stated. Speaking with newsmen on the activities of the zone in 2012, the coordinator

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preparedness, prevention, response, and community resilience to disaster in the country and urged people of south east zone to have a change of attitude on the abuse of their environments.

Dr. Bandele Abdullahi onimode South East Zonal Coordinator

stressed the need for more collaboration amongst major stakeholders in disaster management, added that no nation could tackle disaster issues effectively without cordial relationship and cooperation among the major stakeholders.

The zonal coordinator, had during the interactive session, enumerated some of the disaster assessments carried out in various parts of the states within the region in the year under review. “3,103 persons were displaced, two lives were lost, 144 residential houses, 3 institutional buildings and 3 workshops centre roofs were completely removed and some of the walls pulled down during the windstorm disasters at Nru and Nguru communities in Nsukka and Udenu Local Government Areas of Enugu State,” he said.

He said despite the fact that the year under review was so challenging and tasking for the federal government agency, including the southeast office, as a result of the Dr. Onimode, disclosed that a total of 66 nationwide severe flooding, “the problem lives were lost, while houses, household properties, vehicles and utility services was surmountable.” were destroyed during the Ezza|Ezillo communal clash, and the flood disaster at He assured that the Muhammad Sani Sidi, Nimbo and Opotu communities in Uzo led NEMA, would not deviate from its vision of building a culture of Uwani council area of Enugu State.

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NEMA Provides South Korea gives rice milling machines to Nigeria flood victims Relief Materials For Victims Of T Communal Clash In Abuja

he National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has provided succour for v i ct i m s of t h e r e c e n t communal clash between Fulani herdsmen and Gbagys in Gwagwalada A r e a C o u n c i l of A b u j a o v e r encroachment on farmlands.

Two truckloads of relief materials that include beddings, food items, toiletries, medicaments and tents have been distributed to the victims who are currently being sheltered in a temporary camp on the Permanent Campus of the University of Abuja.

he South Korea Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jong-hyun Choi, has presented rice milling machines to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday in Abuja in fulfillment of an earlier promise to assist the victims of last year's flood disaster.

described the donation as a testimony to the historic friendship and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

“A total of 20 rice mills are being handed over to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for victims in Bayelsa, Kogi and Benue states,” the Ambassador said.

“I promise that NEMA is willing to undertake the immediate distribution of the machines to the identified states together with the officials of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA),” he said.

“There is no doubt that this kind gesture in the provision of rice milling machines will go a long way in aiding the recovery of our local farmers, who have lost the capacity to sustain their means of The Ambassador described the mills as livelihood. durable and capable of processing 300kg of rice per hour and expressed the hope “I am also happy that you have made that the donation would help affected arrangements for the test running of the farmers in benefiting states to overcome equipment and to provide the basic tips on their operations. their plights and distress.

Receiving the machines, the DirectorGeneral of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, commended the overture by the Korean Government in responding to the plight of flood victims and

Sani-Sidi also solicited the assistance of South Korea in capacity building and training on emergency management and disaster risk reduction.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 1.CALL NEMA EMERGENCY CALL CENTER ON:

Flood, infernos displace 3m people in South-South in 2012-NEMA ore than 3.3 million people were displaced by floods and fire incidents in the South-South region of the country within the past one year, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, South South zonal coordinator, Umesi Emenike, has said.

Emenike said that out of the figure, about 3, 353, 210 people in the region were affected by the flood disaster while 2, 076 people were displaced by the fire disasters recorded during the period under review. He said that the agency would soon commence a sensitisation campaign on emergency management as part of efforts to mitigate the occurrence of disasters in the region The south south co-coordinator said that the sensitisation was necessary because of the vulnerability of the region, adding that the training would focus on effective disaster management in 2013.

“We are going to concentrate on holding a lot of seminars, workshops, training programmes, especially with the NYSC and secondary schools. “We are also looking at extending certain programmes to universities; we think that we need to train them a little on emergency management and try to gear their attention in that direction. “The Agency is actually organising training for media practitioners on emergency management; we want to see if we can bring one of those programmes to the zone, so that practicing journalists will actually have better knowledge and also understand some of the provisions in emergency response, disaster response plans; and all that,” Mr. Emenike said.

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

He also warned residents against blocking drains and misuse of inflammable products.

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NEMA denies reported killing of 15 worshippers in Borno he National Emergency Management Agency has denied a report claiming that 15 worshippers were killed in an outskirts of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.

Though some of the reports claimed a source from NEMA provided the information, the agency not only contacted the same officer who denied it in its entirety, it also assigned a special team to investigate and verify the allegation which was later found to be unsubstantiated and untrue. Meanwhile, the team has also discovered that two people were killed by unidentified gunmen around the area on Sunday and whose bodies had been deposited in a hospital. The victims were a security man and a bystander. “Like other similar attacks, the agency could not classify the victims as Muslims or Christians because most of the

attacks are nondiscriminatory of religion, tribe or section of the victims. “This could be deduced from the calibre of personalities including retired military generals, traditional rulers, politicians, public officers, business people, security personnel, traders, students among others that were victims of such attacks.

Flagging off of resilience network and setting up of community Peace Bridge in the Northwest Zone, Kaduna State

“It is necessary to point out that NEMA would never release figures of casualty in whatever form without concrete evidence and certification from relevant authorities including the medical personnel and security agencies. The tradition of collaboration with stakeholder in information management during outbreaks of disaster in any part of the country is to eradicate erroneous impressions and misinformation as well as guard against unnecessary reprisal attacks due to such speculations.

NEMA partners NGOs, others on safety 3,000 Rendered

s part of efforts to address the rising cases of fire and other forms of disaster in Lagos and neighbouring states, the South-West zone of the National Emergency Management Agency has o r g a n i s e d a t r a i n i n g fo r n o n governmental organisations.

T h e eve n t , n a m e d , E m e r g e n c y M a n ag e m e n t P r e p a r e d n e s s a n d Response, also included faith-based organisations and community-based organisations. Assistant Coordinator, South-West zone, NEMA, Adebiyi Babatunde, said the training had become necessary because the organisations were close to the grassroots. Babatunde said the organisations, which were chosen from all the states in the South-West, would be vital in the area of safety advocacy and would be able to send messages of safety practices to members of the public faster. He said, “Community groups have played and will continue to play a major role in disaster management. They are quick in response, have local knowledge and expertise to their advantage and can also

act as important channels for awareness ra i s i n g a n d e d u c at i o n . D i s a ste r management therefore needs to be a coordinated effort among government, various institutions, NGOs, CBOs and the commercial sector.

“Where communities are not directly involved and are passive recipients of relief, the result may be the aggravation of a dependency syndrome. Existing community networks and agencies can therefore play a major role in disaster management, but the pressing need is for such groups to expand their roles in disaster reduction and mitigation activities and not merely focus on relief activities.” Babatunde lamented that there was a disconnect between the Federal Government and the grassroots due to the lack of synergy between the Federal Government and the state and local actors. He said since NGOs could provide relief more quickly especially in cases of small disasters, it had become imperative that government ensured that NGOs received information promptly.

Homeless By Ebute Meta Fire Disaster

he harmattan season has really come on strong in the new year as a string of fire incidences will turn out to b*ttress from the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo in Oyo state, to the plank village inferno in Ebute Meta and the explosion at MRS Petroleum Tank Farm in Tincan Island Ports.

Following the fire that rocked Ebute Meta, about 3,000 people are reported to have lost their homes in the inferno as nothing was left standing at the plank village in Ebute-Meta as the fire raged through the night leaving thousands of people homeless. The National Emergency M a n ag e m e n t Ag e n c y ( N E M A ) claimed it will kick start immediate resettlement plans to give succor to those displaced and provide needed relief materials.