NEMA to train stakeholders on disasters

 

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured stakeholders that it would henceforth participate in joint training to provide better response to emergencies.

 

Director General of NEMA, Engineer Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja gave the assurance in Kaduna when he visited the 401 Flying Training School, Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Base.

“One of the gaps identified by the Commander of 401 Training School is the need for joint training, this is noted and I assure you we would have a special session where this gap and others would be discussed,” he assured.

Maihaja said that NEMA was saddled with responsibility of disaster management in all ramifications.

“Disaster has a circular activity from prevention, mitigation to response. NEMA coordinates all activities of stakeholders in disaster management circle.

“The agency is also charged with responsibility of coordinating disaster management of humanitarian crisis,” he added.

The DG said that the agency has developed so many policies, including the National Disaster Response Plan, that guides disaster management in Nigeria.

“Its main component is establishing a disaster response unit which forms an integral part. Disaster categorised into three, minor, major and catastrophic.

“FG response only comes when it is catastrophic. Others can be handled by SEMA or local authorities.

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“But today in NEMA, we find ourselves also managing minor disasters,” he added.

Speaking further, he said that the agency and its activities are directly under the Presidency, saying,“the president declares a catastrophic disaster and all units, including the Army, Navy and Air force disaster units are activated and coordinated by NEMA,” he said.

“We cannot run away from natural disasters, mostly owing to the climate change. As disaster managers, we would do all within our powers to ensure that NEMA is prompt in response to disasters,” he assured.

He explained that the visit to all disaster units in the country commenced with that of the 401 Flying Training School.

Earlier, Commander 401 Flying Training School, Group Captain Ahmed Yusuf Dari said that the school was established in 1964 for organising flying training for NAF Pilots and also serves as a disaster response unit.

“It was upgraded in 1970 and upgraded again in 1984. It operates Air Beetle and other aircraft,” he added.

Group Captain Dari said that the school was designated a direct emergency response unit.
“Our achievements include 12 casualty and 13 medical evacuation missions within the last 6 months,” he said.

The Commander told the NEMA DG that the units seeks assistance from the agency in terms of training, search and rescue operations, as well as scuba diving training.

“In executing the unit’s responsibilities, we have tried to operate within our safety limits and we got assistance from NEMA in 2016. NEMA conducted 60% of operations in that accident,” he added while referring to a crash incident