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The Agency
since established, has been
very effective in the discharge of its duties. It has provided succour
and timely relief assistance to victims both within and outside
the country. It also participated in the repatriation
of deported/stranded Nigerians from foreign lands and
given assistance to foreign countries in distress.
Furthermore, the Agency has provided both material and financial
assistance to different States of the Federation and some Federal
institutions/establishments such as the Army in times of need.
To ensure a decentralized disaster management system, the Agency
has made worthwhile efforts in providing some concrete structures
to assist in disaster management effort. Some of the structures include the
creation of the following:
ZONAL OFFICES
The Agency establishment of zonal
offices in the six Geo-Political zones of the country namely;
i. South
West at Lagos,
ii. South East at Enugu,
iii. South South at Port
Harcourt,
iv. North East at Maiduguri,
v. North Central at Jos and
vi. North West at Kaduna.
These Zonal
Offices serve as focal points for NEMA to reach out easily
to States, Local Government and Communities within the Zones
where they are located.
STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES/
AGENCIES
The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC's)
are responsible for coordinating disaster situations in their
States and request Federal assistance (NEMA) only
when the level surpasses their capability.
The efforts of NEMA in pursuing the establishment of SEMC's/Agencies in
every state of the Federation and that of Local
Governments Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), have been
yielding results, which can be visualized from the increasing
number of already established Committees in states and Local
Government Areas of the Federation.
DISASTER RESPONSE UNITS (DRU's)
The establishment of Disaster Response Units (DRUs) by NEMA has
further enhanced disaster management efforts nationwide. DRU's
are designated military units established through the instrument
of the National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) and charged with
the responsibility of providing immediate assistance to civil
authorities to reduce further loss of lives and property as well
as human suffering during a National Disaster.
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NIGERIAN MISSION CONTROL CENTRE (COSPAS-SARSAT)
Efforts are almost completed to put in place Hi-Tech facilities
and other infrastructures for an improved and all encompassing
disaster management system for our country. An example is the
installation of the Cospas-Sarsat Technology.
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SEARCH AND RESCUE HELICOPTERS
The procurement of Search and Rescue helicopter by
NEMA has enhanced search and rescue effort of the Agency.
The Helicopter is deployed for:
Search & Rescue Mission.
Transport of Medical Teams and supplies site and hospital.
Transport of Disaster specialist and supplies.
Emergency evacuation.
Airlift of relief materials to inaccessible areas.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS (ERTS)
NEMA has also established two standing Emergency Response Teams (ERTs),
which provide immediate response to disasters within the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT). The teams are manned 24 hours
with full complements of communications, vehicular and other
equipment for operations in the event of any disaster within the
Federal Capital Territory. This will soon be replicated in the Zonal Headquarters
.
ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLY WARNING UNIT
Most disasters result in high casualty rates because of the
absence of an early warning mechanism. In this regard, NEMA has
established an Early Warning Unit within the Department of
Planning and Forecasting. The Unit is composed of a Geographic
Information System (GlS), remote sensing laboratory and a data
bank. The Unit has the responsibility of developing models and strategies for early
warning against floods, produce risk and vulnerability maps and
monitor natural disaster trends in the country. The activities
of the Unit are interfaced with NIMET, NASDRA, Institute of
Oceanography and the Federal Ministry of water resources to provide real time information on natural disasters. All
these agencies are presently being brought-in for mutual
cooperation in the interest of the country.
STOCKPILING OF ZONAL WAREHOUSES
NEMA has sought approval to stock zonal
warehouses with non-perishable relief materials in order to
reduce our time of response to disasters. Hitherto, NEMA
response time in disaster mitigation was two months at the best.
With the last flood disaster in Zamfara State, NEMA was able to
deploy relief materials within one week. The approval for
stock-pilling of relief materials at the zonal warehouses is
still being awaited.
NEMA AIR WING
With the completion of work on the renovation of the helicopter
hanger facility at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
Abuja, NEMA has relocated the Helicopter and crew to
Abuja. Five of our Air Crew/ Engineers have just returned from
simulator training abroad, preparatory to assume management of
the NEMA Air - wing. We have also rented a transit accommodation
for the crew and support staff in Abuja.
PARTNERSHIP WITH HELICOPTER OPERATORS
NEMA has called a meeting of all Helicopter operators
in the Country to establish a working partnership with them.
Through this partnership, the Agency will be able to
incorporate them to
assist in search and rescue operations at short notice during
emergencies. Modalities to pay for their
services will be worked out through a memorandum of understanding
between both parties.
COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
The Agency has gone into collaborative pacts with International,
regional and sub regional bodies and agencies for both capacity
building, and technological enhancement in pursuit of a workable
preparedness approach to curtailing disasters. Some of these
organizations include, UNICEF, ECOWAS, UNDP e.t.c.
The Agency in collaboration with other Government Agencies like
the Immigration Services, State Security Services, the Police,
the Prison and Customs, has received deportees from Spain and
Italy.
These Nigerians were deported at the instance of their host
countries due to one offence or the other. NEMA hardly gives
official assistance to these categories of deportees except in
cases of First Aid and under special circumstances.
Over the years, several workshops and
seminars have been organized particularly, for the purpose of
effective planning and communication as well as preparedness and
response in emergency. The major achievements of the
collaborations include:
Developing an emergency preparedness system in order to monitor
early warning signs and identify trends, which would facilitate
rapid emergency response and coordination.
Supporting effective communication in developing operational
guidelines for rapid response within the country during
emergency situation.;
Ensuring a coordinated emergency data management for improved
reporting at all levels.
Ensuring that each State of the Federation establishes a State
Emergency Management Committee/Agency.
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