THE Nigerian Army Emergency Response Team is to collaborate with the Anambra state emergency management Agency SEMA, to tackle flood challenges in riverine Communities across the State.
The collaboration was reached after a meeting which Governor Willie Obiano had with the Army team and SEMA officials at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
Following a visit by the General Officer Commanding, the Eighty-two Division of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Major-General Emmanuel Kabuk to the State, series of meetings were held during which the Military perfected plans on how to assist the State to contain the flood.
In his remarks during the meeting, Governor Obiano revealed that the assistance of the Army was sought by his government because of the enormous challenges posed by the flood.
Thanking the Army for responding promptly to his appeal, Governor Obiano pledged to facilitate the deployment of helicopters and other equipment to help the Army team map out the already affected communities in the flood-prone areas for onward interventions.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke stressed the need for the Army to also look into strengthening security in the Holding Centres set up for Internally displaced persons.
The Leader of the team and Commander, Regiment Brigade, of the Eighty-two Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Brigadier General Mike Mamman observed that mapping of the flood-prone communities would ensure that they embark on the appropriate rescue operations and deploy the right equipment during emergencies.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, noted that out of the eight flood-prone Local Government Areas, the response would commence with communities in Anambra North Senatorial District because of their peculiar flood problem before spreading to other districts.
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