The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is working towards the establishment of National Emergency Information Centre (NEIC) for timely response to media enquiries on disasters and emergency occurrences in the Nigeria.
The Head of Public Relations of the agency, Yushau A. Shuaib who made the disclosure at the end of a workshop organized by NEMA Abuja Operation Office said the centre would have states of the arts media equipment for efficient processing and timely transmission of disaster-related information based on the best practices.
He disclosed “the National Emergency Information Centre which will be domiciled at NEMA headquarter would have representations from various response agencies who would be gathering information from their respective rescue and relief officers on the ground for relaying timely and accurate emergency information to the public through various media channels.”
He added that the Director of the agency Muhammad Sani-Sidi had mandated members of Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM) who are spokespersons of response agencies to work out with an Action Plan for the implementation of Integrated Public Alert Messaging System (IPAMS).
The Committee is mandated to submit the working document on the first Integrated Public Alert Messaging System (IPAMS) in the country that would give clear guides on the type of information, methods of dissemination and approving authority in warning our people against disasters.
Speaking at the occasion, the Zonal Cordinator Abuja Operation Office of NEMA, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko said the agency is championing the need for Integrated Early Warning Alert Messaging System that would be deployed to send warning messages to specific target audiences against flood, heavy traffics and disaster-prone areas.
He addd that the success of the early warning messages would be determined by the level of cooperation with partnering media, telephone operators and other stakeholders in disaster awareness campaigns. He therefore called on Media Practitioners to support in creating public awareness against disaster, especial disaster risk reduction campaigns.
