In a bid to enhance early prevention disaster, through early warning signals and systematic data interpretation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has launched a Geo-spatial centre to this effect.
At the official commissioning of the center today in Abuja, the Director General NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, made this known.
“The center is a Geographic Information System, (GIS), that aids the Presentation, Creation and Data Organization in a documented form, as well as production of maps and charts” he said.
“In disaster management, GIS provides support system and has the power to integrate data from various sources to a common platform, to enable it within reach to various stakeholders for observing imminent risks, early warning that elicits early response.
The GIS provides real time imageries that guide the stationing of materials assets and humans, to be on life saving assignments, to save lives in the event of disaster”. He said
At the formal commissioning of the Center, the Secretary to the government of the federation, Senator George Akume, stated that the center is an obvious testament of the effort of government to ameliorate the lives of its citizens.
“Right now, the world is challenged by increasing upsurge in magnitude and complexity of various disasters that have affected many countries, which can be seen through famine, communal crisis emerging from ownership and land use.
This reinforces the commitment of the federal government in areas of disaster management, aimed at providing support citizens affected.
Mrs. Funmi Obola, head GIS unit, NEMA during her speech, stated that several functions of the unit is to process and use space satellite technology data for research, gathering of information and forecasting for proper disaster management.
More functions of the GIS unit includes evaluation of various disasters, aftermath, mapping, carrying out field survey and check damage risk vulnerability.
The NEMA GIS, right now Geospatial center, have collaborated with other stakeholders like the Nigeria Metrological Agency, Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency, United Nations Platform for Space Based Information for Disaster Management and Disaster Response and other stakeholders.
Dignitaries present at the event includes Chairman House Committee on Disaster Management, Chairman National Population Commission, Director General NISA, Surveyor General, Head of UNOCHA, amongst others.
