December 1, 2013
The Senate Committee on Special Duties has solicited the cooperation of stakeholders in disaster management with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to tackle the increasing challenges of disasters in the country.
The Senate Committee, which was at the head office of NEMA in Abuja on an oversight visit, also confirmed its support towards the amendment of the law that established the agency to address some identified lapses and make it more operational.
Chairman
of the Committee, Senator Clever Marcus Ikisikpo, who led other members
on the oversight function, said the 2012 flood that devastated many
communities was a sad experience that has awakened national
consciousness for proactive measures against disasters.The statement was made available, on Sunday, by the Press Officer in the agency, Manzo Ezekiel, in Abuja.
Ikisikpo called on the agencies responsible for disaster forecast to try to be more accurate in their predictions and avail NEMA with the alerts immediately for quick responses.
He commended NEMA for its disaster awareness activities and the adoption of other proactive measures to reduce the impacts of disasters in the communities.
“There is need for disaster forecasting for early actions but the predictions should be accurate enough to avoid unnecessary panic,” he said.
After the inspection of some of the facilities at the agency, the committee chairman said the progress made by NEMA should be replicated in the states to step down disaster management to the grassroots.
The Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Victor Lar, on his part, urged NEMA to equip its zonal offices with more operational tools for immediate responses to disasters in the areas.
The Senate Committee was received on behalf of the Director-General, Muhammad Sani Sidi, by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr. Hakeem Akinbola, who led other members of the management staff in briefing the committee on activities of the agency.
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