Nema october2013

A Publication of the National Emergency Management Agency Mohammed Kanar

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EMBER MONTHS: NEMA partners FRSC on crash handling

Ag. Zonal Coordinator

Musa Ilalla Ag. Zonal Coordinator

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orried by the alarming number of deaths recorded on Nigerian roads, especially during 'Ember' months, theNational Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has opened a window of synergy between it and the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC. In line with this, NEMA has organised training for the

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Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013

FRSC staff on vehicle extrication and handling of casualties during road crashes.

The agency, through its search and rescue officer, Kingsley Okolo, demonstrated emergency rescue equipmentsand their uses before the FRSC personnel.

Speaking during the one-day exercise held at the 9th Mile, Enugu office of the FRSC, the South-East coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Bandele Abdulahi Onomode, stressed that the collaboration was to save lives.

Onimode said “it is worrisome that Nigeria records between 100 to 120 road crashes on weekly basis with deaths put at 800 and above on daily basis. “This one day simulation/ training exercise on vehicle extrication and mass casualty handling of road crashes victims is an effort to reduce the number of mortality and

NEMA Search and Rescue Officer demonstrating how to use the vehicle extrication equipment before FRSC personnel Cont. on page 2

EMBER MONTHS: NEMA partners FRSC on crash handling Cont. prom page 1

morbidity by joining hands on rescue management”.

Onimode, who was represented by the assistant zonal coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Innocent Ezeaku, noted that some countries come to Nigeria to learn the country's roads safety and emergency rescues.

“You know we are approaching the peak of Ember months and we will go into what we call 'Operation Eagle Eye', so we are just preparing ourselves for that exercise.

“It is all about how to extricate victims of road crashes in case it happens. That is, to bring people out with minimum injury, to ensure that people who are trapped are removed and a good number of lives are saved”.

He called for more volunteers as special road marshals to complement efforts of FRSC and the police in combating growing traffic build ups in cities.

In his brief remarks, Enugu State sector commander of FRSC, Fumubi Olawuyi, who spoke through the 9th mile unit commander of the corps, Mr. Blaise Ezeani applauded NEMA for the training.

He, however, identified bad roads and human errors as the two major factors responsible for incessant roadcrashes in Nigeria.

He advocated adequate investment in road construction and rehabilitation by governments at all levels in the country.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 1.CALL NEMA EMERGENCY CALL CENTER ON: 0800CALL NEMA or (080022556362) -TOLL FREE 0929O5777 092905895 08032003555

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.

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NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 2

takeholders in disaster management have urged governments at all levels to sustain the current efforts atpreventing flood disaster in the country.

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

It, however, noted that only disasters that had overwhelming effects on the states were attended to by the Federal Government through NEMA.

This is contained in a statement issued by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The stakeholders made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the 3rd SouthSouth Emergency Management meeting held in Asaba.

It advised governments to undertake regular dredging of rivers, canals and creeks to minimise frequent occurrence of floods.

2. To give the following information:

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

Flood management efforts to be sustained S

Panel of discussion at the 3rd South South Emergency Management Summit and Exhibition at Asaba, Delta State

“Government should evacuate silt and increase capacity of the channels to drain excess water and prevent the overflow into communities.”

The statement quoted the Director-General (D-G) of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, as commending the efforts made by states in the SouthSouth to improve on disaster management strategies between 2011 and 2012.

The communiqué also recommended the construction of embankment in identified high risk areas of the coastal region and the installation of tidal gauges in strategic locations for early warning alerts.

To consolidate the gains, Sani-Sidi said there was the need to adopt the new paradigm shift to disaster risk reduction as contained in the UN Hyogo Framework of action for disaster management.

It identified the need to encourage greater collaboration between the private sector and government in disaster management.

The D-G stressed the need for the formulation of policies as it pertained to social development, equity, economic growth, environmental quality and sustainable land use.

The communique warned the youth in the area to stop damaging oil installations as their activities affected the environment and often resulted in fire disasters.

It urged the states that had yet to establish their own State Emergency Management Agencies to do so with proper backing of the law, adequate funding, staffing and operational capability to handle disaster issues.

The meeting which was organised by the NEMA in collaboration with the Delta government had participants drawn from all the states in the SouthSouth geo-political zone.

It also had in attendance members of the National Assembly, and representatives of international partners in disaster management as well as the Red Cross.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 3

FG commended on disaster management efforts T

he South-South Zonal office of NEMA in partnership with the Delta State Government has organized a 2-day Emergency Management Summit in Delta State on Integrated disaster risk management and response for sustainable development. The Conference was aimed at strengthening the gains derived from the previous summits held in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Speaking, a member of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Aisha Jummai-Alhassan who represented the Chairman commended the Federal Government for the unrelenting efforts in the

who spoke through the Commissioner of Environment, Chief Frank Umeri, called for a holistic approach in disaster management.

Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, in her address, said the need for early sensitization, enlightenment and prompt relocation of the people at risk must be a priority for government and its agencies.

In his presentation, Prof. Fubara Dagogo a lecturer in University of Science and Technology NkpoluOroworukwo, Port Harcourt Rivers State, urged the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB) into law. Prof.Dagogo said that this bill will have a positive impact on host communities as regards disaster risk reduction. In the same vein, the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Sir Orom Ntem Ereforoduma responding to questions said that '' the oil companies in Andoni local Government Area do not appreciate the fact that human beings leave in that LGA''.

DG NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi presenting a gift to the Delta state commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare who represented the state Governor at the 3rd South South Disaster management Summit

provision of all necessities needed in risk and disaster management in Nigeria. Senator Jummai-Alhassan urged NEMA and its agencies to always make judicious use of the materials provided for disaster management.

The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Eweta Uduaghan

Sir Ereforokuma during an interactive session with the participants maintained that oil companies in his Local Government Area had never assisted in disaster management. '' If they are cooperating with people in the Local Government, why are they not in this summit''.

In his vote of thanks, the South-South NEMA Zonal Co-ordinator, Mr. Emenike Umesi urged State and Local Government Areas to establish State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Local Government Emergency Committee (LEMCS) that are adequately funded and staffed to ensure effective co-ordination, emergency preparedness and response.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 6

Abuja office holds workshop on reduction of road crashes

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EMA Abuja Operations Office, has organized a workshop to facilitate experience sharing on the handling of mass casualty during the ember months.

The coordinator, Ishaya Chomoko said the agency had embarked on a nationwide training on improved handling of casualty and advocacy campaign against road accidents.

The coordinator said that the training of emergency response stakeholders on casualty handling was in line with the UN call to mitigate the impact of the road accidents in the country. ``It is common knowledge that during the ember months, we experience increase in the movement of people fromone part of the country to the other by road to attend one form of festivity or another. ``Persistent pressure on the road over the years, especially by articulated vehicles and inadequate railtransportation system, has resulted in high records in traffic accidents,'' he said.

The coordinator advised State Emergency Management Agencies to emulate NEMA in carrying out disaster curtailing activities at the

grassroots.

In his remark, the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency, Mr Idriss Abbas, commended NEMA for its efforts to promote synergy among emergency response stakeholders in the FCT. He stressed the need to adequately equip and train primary response agencies such as the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on safety measures.

Abbas also harped on the need for emergency agencies to address the current accident statistics as recorded by the FRSC. He urged participants at the workshop to make adequate use of the opportunity provided by NEMA on how toretrieve and evacuate casualties during emergencies.

The officer in charge of operations in the FCT Command of the FRSC, Mr Yusuf Abdullahi, said the commissionwas set to ensure safety during the yuletide.

He said the FRSC was set to deploy more than 100 personnel to ensure safety regulations on the Abuja -Lokoja expressway alone during the festive periods.

Auto Crashes Main Cause Of Deaths In Nigeria NEMA

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) North West zonal office has said that auto crashes top the chart of causes of death in the country, the coordinator Alhaji Musa Ilallah, stated this at the 2013 workshop with stakeholders on mass casualty handling in Kaduna.

He said the statistics released by FRSC on road related crashes in the country is worrisome, adding that the increase in deaths through road accidents further compounds response to disasters.

causes of human lives loss in the country. NEMA as an agency of the Federal Government found it expedient to organise this forum with a view to sensitising members of the public in order to engineer a proactive approach to disasters risk reduction strategy,� Ilallah said.

Ilallah said the workshop is in continuation of NEMA's efforts in mitigating the impact of large scale emergencies, especially during the Ember months of September, October, November and December and also during festive periods like Sallah, Easter, Christmas among others.

“Deaths through road crashes top the chart of the NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 7

State of emergency: NEMA distributes relief materials in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials in parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe to cushion the effect of the State of Emergency imposed on the

states.

The North-East Coordinator of the agency, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar disclosed this in Yola.

Kanar said the measure was in compliance with President Goodluck Jonathan's directive to provide succour for people in the states affected by the state of emergency proclamation. ``As you know the president has directed that measures should be taken to cushion the effects of the state of emergency.

The coordinator said that in Borno, relief materials were distributed in places like Maiduguri, Marte, Baga, Gwoza and Bama.

He said the distribution of the relief materials in Damboa would be done at a later date. ``In Yobe, we gave relief materials in places like Gashua, Damaturu and Potiskum, while in Adamawa, we presented relief in Yola, Mubi and some other places,'' he said.

On the issue of flood, the coordinator said all necessary arrangements had been put in place to tackle the threat in the zone.

He said for now, the flooding had started on the banks of Komadugu-Yobe River.

``So, we organised direct distribution of relief materials to victims and those in places affected by insurgency activities,'' Kanar said.

Kanar said the flooding was already affecting farmlands in Jakusko and Mobbar Local Government Areas of Yobe and Borno, respectively.

Boat Mishaps: NEMA to assist Niger State

T

Speaking in Minna, the Director Relief and Rehabilitation of NEMA, Mr Eze Udemezue, who led a team from the Agency on behalf of the Director General Muhammad Sani Sidi on a visit to the offices of NSEMA, identified the imperatives of strengthening synergy and collaboration among organizations involved in disaster management for efficiency in tackling disaster issues in the communities. He affirmed the commitment of NEMA in rallying necessary resources and structures to build a strong and robust framework for disaster management in Nigeria.

I

n an effort to muster support for people living with disability, especially in disaster situations, the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Muhammad Sani Sidi has called on the public to consider the plight of the disabled persons in their communities and provide them with necessary assistance during emergencies.

He made the call in Abuja at a programme organized to mark this

DG NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi (1st right) with dignitaries at International Day for Disaster Reduction in Abuja

Sani Sidi noted that persons living with disability were among the most excluded in the society, and that their plights usually escalate when disaster strikes. “ We need to remind our planners and builders that wheel chair access is needed for evacuation and there is the need to include this in our designs and buildings,” he added.

``We have identified safer grounds and camps for communities under threat. In Adamawa, for instance, we have 10 sites in Yola alone.''

``Even before the president's directive, the DirectorGeneral of the Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi, had directed us to act.

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has offered to assist the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in the management of disasters in the state especially to minimize the frequent boat mishaps along River Niger that have recently claimed many lives.

GIVE ATTENTION TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY - DG NEMA

Participants at International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction Day in Abuja

He urged the state to take advantage of the newly established operational office of NEMA in Minna to facilitategreater emergency services delivery to the people at the grassroots. He said the Agency has also deployed relief assistance to be distributed directly to the survivors and bereaved families of those affected by the recent series of boat mishaps in the state.

Responding, Malam Isa Usman who received the team on behalf the NSEMA appreciated the gesture and assuredthat it will partner NEMA to facilitate necessary assistance to the people at the grassroots in the state.

The NEMA team comprised of the coordinator of its newly established Minna Operations Office, Mr Lugard Slaku, Coordinator of Abuja Operations Office Mr Ishaya Chonoko and representatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 4

School Chidren and disabled persons who participated in the Disaster Risk Reduction Day Abuja

year International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction with the theme: “Living with Disability and Disaster”.

He said “the theme captured the essence why we must work together to reduce the risk and impacts of disaster on the vulnerable in our mist.”

He further said “ It is important to remind ourselves that including the people with disabilities in disaster risk reduction efforts will not only be to their benefit, but it will have the potential to contribute to community-wide resilience. People living with disabilities must be seen not as passive recipients of humanitarian care, but rather as equal participants in disaster risk reduction”.

On the significance of the occasion, he said the United Nation designated the day which is normally celebrated annually to raise the profile of disaster risk reduction and to encourage people and government to participate in building more resilient communities and the Nation.

Participants in the program were drawn from UNDP, ECOWAS, Fed. Ministry of Education, Albino Foundation, School for the handicapped, Kuje. Others include Fed. Ministry of Women Affairs, Human Right Commission, Disable Rehabilitation Foundation and Centre of Advocacy for Persons with Disability

NEMA Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 22 October 2013 / Page 5