By Eze Nkechi
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is undertaking hazard risk analysis for Nigeria with the United Nations Children Educational Fund (UNICEF) to identify and strengthen action towards addressing common disasters in different parts of the country.
Director General NEMA Mrs Zubaida Umar and UNICEF Country in Nigeria Ms Cristian Munduate reviewed the progress of the risk analysis today when the later visited the NEMA headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was also aimed at strengthening existing partnership between the two organizations.
In her remark, the DG NEMA appreciated the partnership of UNICEF said it was imperative for the analysis to be followed by capacity building of disaster managers at the grassroots to manage situations in the communities before arrival of further supports that may be required.
She said after the on-going series of workshops that are being held in all the geo-political zones, a national validation and launch of the hazard risk analysis would hold in Abuja to complete the exercise.
She said “I appreciate UNICEF’s support to the agency spanning over ten years, especially in the development of hazard risk analysis for Nigeria, which addressed issues of flooding, epidemics and armed conflict/ violence. Others are the development and review of National and Sub-National Contingency Plans for the country; simulation exercise for emergency preparedness; and UNICEF’s support for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector through coordination and supply of WASH items. These initiatives have gone a long way in complementing NEMA’s efforts in emergency preparedness and response to disasters in Nigeria.”
Mrs Umar also spoke about NEMA’s preparedness for this year’s raining season. She said the Agency, in line with its mandate of coordinating emergency preparedness, mitigation and response activities across the country has held an Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) meeting of relevant stakeholders to enlighten them and to discuss preparedness and proactive measures with regards to the predicted 2024 flood disaster and other hazards.”
Furthermore, in all addition to all other actions, according to her, the Agency has also taken steps to inform State Governors of the implications of the prediction and the need for the State Governments to take adequate precautionary measure, in addition to the production of risk maps; media campaign and sensitization to the public among others.
The UNICEF Country Representative Ms Munduate in her response said that her organization would help to develop training modules for Staff of NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies and other sub-national stakeholders.
She reiterated commitment of UNICEF to sustain supports being provided in the form of food and nutrition especially in locations impacted by conflicts in Nigeria.
The UNICEF Country representative was also led by the DG NEMA on a tour of the newly commissioned state-of-the-art NEMA Geo-Spatial Centre equipped with modern facilities.
