NEMA newsletter

Vol. 4 No. 8

Mohammed Kanar

August 2012

Mohammedkanar@yahoo.com

Vol. 4 No. 8

08033035986

August 2012

UN to Strengthen NEMA's Intervention Efforts he United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator Mission to Nigerian has expressed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in areas of Nutritions, Humanitarian impact and Food security.

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Musa Ilalla Ag. Zonal Coordinator

Musahk123@yahoo.com

08033146397

UN to Strengthen NEMA's Intervention Efforts page 1 URBAN FIRE SIMULATION NEMA calls for active collaboration among stakeholders page 2 UN Commends NEMA's Swift Response to disaster page 2 FLOOD: 10, 000 Get Nema Relief In Plateau State page 3 Evacuate Disaster Prone Areas Nema Urges Residents page 3 South South sensitized On Solid Waste Management page 4

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

Rivers, Niger, Benue,Imo, Sokoto , Others Prone to Flooding NEMA page 4

The Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Sahel, David Gressly stated this when he visited NEMA headquarters in Abuja. He said they were in Nigeria to discuss the challenges contributing to the heightened vulnerability of the people in the Sahel region of the country as well as opportunities to enhance partnership and collaboration between governments, regional organizations and the humanitarian community to address the challenges.

Earlier, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi sought a stronger partnership with the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in addressing copious disaster related challenges ravaging socio-economic activities in countries in the Sahel region. He also appealed that Nigeria should be designated the hub of its humanitarian activities within the

West African sub-region.

Sani-Sidi said: “Nigeria being the major destination of most displaced due to the Sahel crises deserves special assistance from the UN system to be able to build stronger resilience and cope with the crises.”

“The Sahel region is characterized with fragile ecosystem which is highly vulnerable to climate change due its geographical location in the southern edge of the Sahara desert coupled with the strong dependence of the population on rain-fed agriculture and livestock as a means of livelihood,” the D-G explained.

He said a combination of natural and human induced disasters were making life difficult for those living within the region but informed that “most climate models predict that the Sahel region will experience lower than average rainfall in the 21st century.”

Sani sidi said the states in the Sahel region include Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa,Yobe, Borno, Kaduna,Bauchi and Gombe.

World Humanitarian Day: NEMA Solicit Protection For Aid Workers page 6 Flood: NEMA advises Oyo State to remove structures on water ways page 6 NEMA tasks Rivers lawmakers on disaster funding page 7 NEMA Partners Akwa Ibom State On Emergency Operations Center page 7

Content Supplied by: NEMA Public Relations Division

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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DG NEMA with David Gressly of the UN OCHA

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URBAN FIRE SIMULATION NEMA calls for active collaboration among stakeholders

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irector-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, has called for concerted efforts and active collaboration between all emergency response service providers towards building a culture of preparedness, response and community resilience to disaster in the country.

He stated this at the opening ceremony of NEMA Simulation Exercise nicknamed “AGBAKO INAA,” at the Armed Forces Simulation Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

Sani-Sidi, who was represented by the

Director of Training, Mrs. Clementina Aisueni, said the programme was developed to simulate the agency's response to urban fire disaster “as a result of the increased activities of terrorists and m i l i t a n t s e m p l oy i n g I m p rov i s e d Explosive Devices (IEDs) to perpetrate their acts in different parts of the country.”

lead to urban fires.”

“From present experiences, the challenges require concerted efforts and active collaboration between all emergency response service providers at both local and national levels to strengthen the coordination and preparedness capacities in order to ensure timely and effective response whenever He said it was disturbing that in addition such challenges arise. to the effects of climate change that has increased vulnerability to natural hazards, the country “is now facing human- “The simulation exercise, would give each induced hazards of insurgency and agency/organisation the opportunity to terrorism, civil conflicts, collapsed be more familiar with their respective buildings, road and air crashes that could roles and responsibilities during given scenario; enable lead and support agencies practice how to function under a unified command and control structure; help to test-run the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with a view to developing the country's National Incident Management System that would further enhance operational capabilities, among others,” he said.

In his address, the Commandant of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air vice Marshal Ahmed Tijani Muazu, said the exercise was very important, considering the number of fire outbreaks in recent time in Nigeria.

Simulation exercise was a global trend, he added.

A group photography of participants at Urban fire simulation exercise at Jaji

The exercise was designed to also educate the participants on planning and handling of fire disasters, using global best practice models.

UN Commends NEMA's Swift Response to disaster he United Nations (UN) has commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its swift response and approach to disaster management in Nigeria.

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The commendation came after the Coordinator of Humanitarian Assistance of the United Nations, Mr. Ayo Ajayi went round to assess the humanitarian

situation of the displaced flood victims in General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Jos, Plateau State, in the company of a Sani Sidi said the Agency had delivered NEMA team. relief materials worth millions of Naira to the displaced flood victims.

Ajayi said he was happy with NEMA's approach to the disaster and its wisdom in The Director General, who was inviting the UN to complement the represented by Mr. Ben Oghena, assistant Federal Government's effort in managing Director of Planning, Research and disasters in Nigeria.

Forecasting, noted that NEMA had earlier given early warning signals on flooding in In his earlier remarks, the Director the country including the affected areas.

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FLOOD: 10, 000 Get Nema Relief In Plateau State fter an extensive assessment of the weekend flood that devastated communities in six local government areas of Plateau State, the National Emergency Management Agency has distributed relief assistance to more than 10, 000 persons who were displaced by the disaster in Shendam, Wase, Mikang, Kanam, Langtang North and Langtang South local government areas of the state.

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N E M A ' s D i re cto r of R e l i ef a n d Rehabilitation, Mr Edward Maigida who represented the Director General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, led the team that carried out the relief distribution in all the affected council areas. He also conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the affected persons. He s a i d t h e i te m s we re delivered to provide quick relief based on the rapid assessment of the situations, promising that further assistance may be considered after the detailed assessment.

He said NEMA's prompt response to the situation wa s i n l i n e w i t h i t s

commitment to promote and ensure e f f i c i e n t a n d e f fe ct i ve d i s a ste r management in the country. Mr Maigida also said that the early warning alerts given about possible floods in some identified states including Plateau was real and therefore urged communities living in the high risk areas to relocate temporarily to safer locations to avoid loss of lives and property in the remaining period of the rain season.

affected persons said about 65 communities were affected. He thanked the federal government for the kind gesture. Also speaking, the Emir of Wase, Alhaji Muhammadu Haruna who received the NEMA team at his palace commended the agency for the timely response in the delivery of the relief assistance.

It would be recalled that the flood had resulted in the loss of 5 lives, submerged In Shendam local government, the homes in many communities and council chairman, Mr Nicholas Kemi washed away several bridges that link the who received the items on behalf of the local government areas. The items distributed were assorted food materials including bags of rice, millet, grains and tea items. Others were treated mosquito nets, b l a n ket s , c l ot h i n g s , mattresses, buckets, nylon mats, cups and spoons.

Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore Charles Otegbade presenting relief items to the Chairman of Shendam local Govt.

The Nigerian Meteorological A g e n c y ( N I M E T ) h ad recently alerted of likely heavy rain that could result in floods in some states including Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa.

Evacuate Disaster Prone Areas

Nema Urges Residents

ollowing incessant cases of natural disasters in Cross River State recently, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called for the immediate evacuation of residents from disaster zones to safer areas in the event of threat to lives.

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The Zonal Coordinator, South-South, NEMA, Mr. Umesi Emenike, gave the advice at the weekend while assessing the recent flood disaster in Agwagune and Umon communities in the Biase Local Council of the state.

Emenike said, “life is precious and it

would be a sin against God and the residents in Agwagune were still Federal Government for anyone to take adamantly hoping for the water to recede unnecessary risks by not vacating life- and give them respite. threatening disaster zones” Emenike said the water level was He stated that the overflow of river banks frightening and that anyone still hanging were phenomena that could hardly be on when he had opportunity to evacuate checked and that residents of flooded would be putting his life in jeopardy. areas occasioned by the overflows should not expect immediate recession of the The NEMA coordinator, who regretted water and should, therefore, move to safe the loss of six persons in the flood that ravaged about 10 communities in Biase areas.

Local Council Area, promised The NEMA zonal coordinator observed collaboration with its counterpart in the that in spite of the raging water flow across state to intervene in the disaster in which the village at several points, most about 5,000 persons were displaced.

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South South sensitized On Solid Waste Management h e N at i o n a l E m e r g e n c y Management Agency (NEMA) h as e m b a r ke d o n t h e sensitisation of people in the South South Zone on solid waste management as part of efforts to reduce flooding .

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Mr Umesi Emenike, the zonal Coordinator in the zone disclosed this in an interview in Port Harcourt.

Emenike said that the exercise was organised by the agency in collaboration

with the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguards.

improper refuse disposal in order not to block the water channels and do not erect structures close to waterways,” Emenike enjoined them.

He identified the causes of flooding in the area to include inadequate drainages, The coordinator noted that state improper refuse disposal system, building governors had received early warning on and blocking of drainages and signals to take measures to prevent construction on flood prone areas. flooding.

He urged the people to desist from acts “We want various agencies and t h a t w e r e d et r i m e n t a l t o t h e stakeholders to be proactive and support environment.

NEMA to ensure that the flooding is “Do not erect houses on drainages, avoid curtailed.”

He said that information had been sent through various media houses to enlighten people in the zone on the need to reduce the impacts of flooding.

According to him, the agency has sponsored radio jingles in the six states of the South-South region.

He said that the agency was also organising a stakeholders' conference on climate change, 2nd South-South Summit on emergency management and stakeholders meeting with royal fathers in the region.

NEMA South South Coordinator Emenike Umesi with his Counterpart during the sensitization

Emenike said NEMA was working hard to ensure that state governors in the region establish Emergency Management Centres in the all the local government councils.

Rivers, Niger, Benue,Imo, Sokoto , Others Prone to Flooding - NEMA

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ore than 25 million Nigerians, who live in the coastal areas, are at risk of being affected by flood, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned.

NEMA's Head of Public Relations, Mr Yusha'u Shuaib, said in Abuja that the basins of Rivers Niger, Benue and Sokoto were the most prone to flood.

Shuaib said that an assessment exercise conducted by NEMA and other partner agencies, showed that most of the country's large rivers had flood plains that were subject to flooding during rainy season.

He listed the states that were threatened by flood to include, Rivers, Niger, Benue, Cross River, Katsina, and Imo, among others.

" N i g e r i a n tow n s a re g e n e ra l l y characterized by poor drains and are, t h e r e fo r e , p ro n e to f l o o d i n g , particularly towns like Lagos, Ibadan, Aba, Calabar, Maiduguri and Port Harcourt," he said.

"The areas that have had severe flooding impacts since the beginning of the rainy He said that the agency had intensified season include the coastal areas of efforts to ensure protection of people Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom living in the affected areas through and Cross River States," Shuaib said. advocacy campaigns, to prevent loss of lives and properties.

He gave factors that favour flooding in the area to include lack of surface drains, "The agency is warning people of or blockage of existing drains with impending danger to their lives and municipal waste, refuse and eroded soil where necessary urging states and local sediments. authorities to relocate people in disaster prone areas," Shuaibu said.

Urban Fire Simulation Exercise nicknamed AGBAKO INAA conducted on 13th - 17th August 2012 in Armed Forces Simulation Centre Jaji

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that often result in human displacements that require “concerted efforts at raising awareness on effective humanitarian service delivery.” This, he said, could only be possible when emergency workers have the confidence to provide for the needs of the most vulnerable groups in the communities including women, children, the elderly and physically Sani Sidi said though Nigeria was less challenged. prone to natural hazards of volcanic e m e r g e n c y wo r ke r s s h o u l d b e appreciated, especially in the face of the increasing risk they face at the ever growing hotspots of disasters and armed conflicts across the world. The DG stated this in Abuja as Nigeria celebrates the Humanitarian Day.

With the theme of this year's celebration being “Greening of the Blues” Alhaji Sidi said it was strategically selected to raise awareness about the current challenges of climate change and the need to explore sustainable adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies aimed at checking large scale disasters such as floods, epidemics, drought, desertification and resultant biodiversity loss and depletion of the genetic pool.

The World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every 19th August after it was adopted in December 2008 by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly's 63 rd Session. The date coincides with the anniversary of the 2003 attack in a hotel in Bagdad where 24 humanitarian operators of the United Nations including its High Commissioner NEMA officials providing humanitarian assistance in IDP Camp fo r H u m a n R i g h t s a n d S p e c i a l Representative of the Secretary General to He said for being neutral and bringing eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, Iraq lost their lives. succor to people in distress, the services of there were other causes of emergencies

Flood: NEMA advises Oyo State to remove structures on water ways h e N at i o n a l E m e rg e n c y Management Agency has urged Oyo State Government to take decisive steps to remove the over 26,000 structures on flood plains in the state.

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T h e D i re cto r- G e n e ra l of N E M A , Muhammad Sani-Sidi, made the call in a speech delivered on his behalf by the South West Assistant Coordinator, Babatunde Adebiyi, at a Flood Prevention and Mitigation Workshop organized by the agency in Ibadan.

bridges, building people's resilience Sani-Sidi said the perennial flooding in against identifiable disaster risks is the best the state capital could only be stopped by legacy that a leader can bequeath to his removing all risk factors that aided the people. disaster.

The NEMA boss said such development He said the obstruction of natural paths of would enable the government to focus on rain water was the leading factor stability and a virile environment without contributing to flooding in the fearing that disaster would wipe off government efforts. metropolis.

He said, “Even though the state government is taking steps to reconstruct and rehabilitate canals, extend drains and

He, urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMAs) to replicate the workshop at the state level in the zone.

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NEMA tasks Rivers lawmakers on disaster funding

World Humanitarian Day: NEMA Solicit Protection For Aid Workers s Nigeria joins other nations in celebration of the 2012 World Humanitarian Day, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi has solicited support and protection for emergency workers as they provide the required assistance to people in distress.

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to ensure adequate provision for funding of the proposed State Emergency Management Agency, which bill is before the House.

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The call was made by the South/South coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Emenike Umesi, while commenting on the agency, in the wake of the Okogbe petrol tanker fire disaster and other similar incidents in the state.

He said there was the need for the bill to clearly spell out the responsibility of the agency and its relationship with its

Federal counterpart, NEMA in state, adding that its sources of funding managing emergency situations in the should be clearly stated.

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

NEMA Partners Akwa Ibom State On Emergency Operations Center h e N at i o n a l E m e rg e n c y Management Agency (NEMA) is to render technical assistance to Akwa Ibom State in the setting up of an Emergency Operations Center which is to be located at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Uyo.

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This was disclosed during a visit by a NEMA team led by the Director of Planning, Dr Charles Agbo. Others in the team were Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore C.D. Otegbade, and the South South Zonal Coordinator, Mr Emenike Umesi. They were received by the Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Ekaette Ekannem and the MD/CEO of the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Captain Williams Bunmi, who took the team on a tour of the facility to see the equipment already installed for the takeoff of the center.

Impressed by what they saw, the NEMA team promised to assist the state with the much needed technical and manpower resources for the effective takeoff of the center.

The centre is one of the first Emergency Operations Centers in Nigeria and in West

The Director Planning Research and Forecasting Dr. Charles Agbo, Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore C.D. Otegbade with South South zonal Coordinator Emenike Umesi being taken round by the Director State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Ekaette Ekannem and the MD/CEO of the Akwa Ibom International Airport, Captain Williams Bunmi the facility of Emergency Operation Centre, Akwa Ibom State.

Africa and could render technical assistance to the entire country and Making the presentation on behalf of the agency, the Zonal Coordinator, told the particularly the South South region. people that in response to their plight, the Meanwhile, the South South Zonal office Agency decided to partner with some of of the agency has commenced the relief their leaders in ensuring that they at least distribution of potable water to the got clean water to drink, adding that the people of Ogoni in Gokhana L.G.A and Tai water was free and was not for sale.

L.G.A of Rivers State. It would be recalled that the people have for some time been Present at the event were African battling with the challenges of getting Representative at the World Youth clean water to drink due to several oil Assembly, Mr. Marvin Yobanna and pollution which has affected their sources community leaders. of drinking water.