The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to provide stipends and equipment to first responders to emergencies and disasters at community level in the FCT.
Mr Felix Obuah, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), FCTA, made the pledge at a 3rd Quarter Activation Meeting/ Waste Management, Flood Disaster Mitigation and Response workshop, in Abuja on Thursday.
The workshop was organised for local divers, emergency vanguards, disaster marshals, towns criers and Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) across the six Area Councils of FCT as first responders to disasters at community level.
It was organised by the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pledge was in response to a plea by one of the disaster volunteers from Galadimawa, Mr Mohamed Bello.
Bello requested for modern equipment for local
divers in flood-prone communities to enable them save people from drowning during flood.
Responding, Obuah said: “I felt that there is a need for these volunteers, divers, emergency vanguards and disaster marshals to be taken care of.
“This is because, if they are well taken care of, most of the mitigating measures would be strengthened in communities.
“One of the volunteers requested for life jackets and other emergency response equipment, these are supposed to be provided without them asking for it.
“I am assuring all of you that by the special grace of God, we are going to look into this aspect and by the time we come for another training next time, these issues would have been taken care of.”
He described the workshop as a crucial step towards effective disaster mitigation and response in the FCT.
“At a time when natural and human activities are resulting in increasing flood incidents, epidemic outbreaks, fire and building collapse.
“It is only appropriate to convene a meeting like this to strategise as part of emergency preparedness and effective response,” the coordinator said.
He assured stakeholders of the commitment of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to strengthen FEMD and make emergency response work in the FCT.
Earlier, the acting Director-General, FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, said that the objective of the workshop was to improve the capacity of emergency and disaster responders in communities.
Wenegieme said that FEMD would continue to work closely with LEMCs, divers, volunteers, marshalls, vanguards and town criers to improve the effectiveness of disaster risk mitigation and response in communities.
She thanked NEMA, AMMC coordinator and the pioneer D-G of FCT Emergency Management Agency, Dr Abbas Idriss for the support.
Also, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, D-G, NEMA, advised residents on proper waste disposal and safe burning of refuse at homes to avoid fire outbreak.
Umar, who was represented by the agency’s Coordinator, North Central Zone, Mr Bashir Garga, said that proper waste management was key to building a safe and resilient environment.
On his part, Idriss, who spoke on effective response to disaster in the FCT, advocated for quick response and proper coordination among different responders at the scene.
“The responders at a disaster scene must also ensure that every stakeholder is assigned a specific role for maximum results,” he added.
Idriss, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AYGEE and Hazards Consulting ltd, advised FEMD to review its Emergency Response Plan in line with current realities.
Similarly, Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Head, Abuja Operations Office, NEMA, in a paper entitled, “Waste Management, Flood Disaster Mitigation and Response, said that effective waste management would avert potential health and environmental hazards in communities.
NAN reports that Mr Paul Kazza, Chief Executive Officer, Yunesco Nigeria Ltd, demonstrated to the participants how to use modern diving techniques during rescue operations. (NAN)
By Philip Yatai
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