NEMA PARTNERS KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it is collaborating with all stakeholders in the disaster management to reduce the impact of disaster on the people.

Similarly residents of Anambra State have been advised to clear water ways as the rainy season sets in to avoid flash flood occasioned by blockage of water channels.

The NEMA Coordinator for South East zone, Enugu, Mr. Fred Anusim, made the call in Awka when he paid a courtesy visit to some key agencies in the disaster management sector in Anambra State.

NEMA was established by the Federal Government to respond to distress situations and also contribute towards reducing disaster nationwide.

This explains why the new Zonal Coordinator for South East comprising Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States, Mr. Fred Anusim, decided to embark on the familiarization visit to key stakeholders with a view to collaborating with them in managing disaster situations.

The agencies visited included, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Anambra State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as the Nigeria Red Cross Society.

Mr. Anusim noted that there was the need for all the agencies to work closely in the area of capacity building, training and re-training of staff as well as constant sensitization of the grassroots to be proactive when it comes to disaster issues.

The Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo, who was represented by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Emergency, Mr. Emeka Obinwa, thanked the Federal Government for always coming to the rescue of flood and other emergency victims in the state through NEMA.

In their separate speeches, the Director Anambra State Fire Service, Mr. Martin Agbili; and the Chairman Red Cross Society in Anambra State, Professor Peter Katchy, expressed their resolve to collaborate with NEMA in tackling emergency situations whenever it occurred in the area.

Also, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Mrs. Obiageli Obiajulu, and her FRSC counterpart, Mr. Andrew Kumapayi, promised not to relent in providing security for emergency victims and assisting in road crash emergency situations.

UCHE NDEKE