Kehinde Akintola
Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Habib Ahmed on Tuesday underscored the need for 36 State Governments and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take necessary steps to mitigate this year’s flooding by setting up Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC).
He gave the charge while addressing Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State who gave a vivid account of measures being put in place to mitigate this year’s flooding.
The NEMA helmsman who applauded the proactiveness of the Ekiti State Governor towards averting the flooding-related crisis pledged the Agency’s readiness to partner with the State.
“Let me start by commending the Executive Governor because he has started preparing for the flood season, he has already started clearing drainages in Ekiti state. To prove to me that he’s doing that, he has invited me to come to Ekiti state to see what they are doing towards that.
“I think about two months ago, we trained all SEMAs’ Executive Secretaries here in Abuja, we brought in professionals from Bournemouth university and the whole department of disaster management of the university was here four of them – the director and three other professors to train all our Executive Secretaries of SEMA here in Abuja. Ekiti state was part of those that were here for the programme and thank God, he was one of those who passed that course.
“Sir, going by that knowledge alone and not replicating it is a challenge.
“Sir, one thing I know about you is that you are a man of action and you are a man of your words, if you say ‘A’ it’s ‘A’, this is what I know you for. I’ve known the Executive Governor for over 14 years and we have maintained that friendship not that it has broken anytime.
“Sir, I would advise that we set up Local Emergency Management Committee immediately let us come there when you are going to inaugurate them. Every disaster is local, it starts from a community within a local government and a State.
“Sir, we have to collaborate and work hand-in-hand to ensure that what happened last year does not repeat. Seasonal climate prediction has shown that we are having longer days of rain this year, another outlook has also shown us that. The planning department is working with the Agency and other stakeholders including the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), we are working together to identify areas that will be hit.
“I just approved sensitization programmes across the country, jingles, TVs so that everybody will be aware of what is coming. Before when they tell you, it’s going to rain, you see nothing. Climate prediction nowadays is scientific, it’s field-based, when they tell you, it’s going to rain, it’s going to rain. And we are expecting that.
“What we have done in Ekiti State we have done to all the 36 states and the federal capital territory, we did not exclude any state of the federation. You are the first to come here and say thank you.
“What we have given to Ekiti State, some states got more than you because it depends on the gravity of the flood, but nobody has even come to even say thank you, we have not seen that yet.
“We will continue to partner with you, we will collaborate with you we are willing to come and do the inauguration of the LEMC, we are willing to come and see what you have done in terms of clearing of the drainages and everything there,” he assured.
Speaking earlier, on Tuesday unveiled plans to set up the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) as part of ongoing efforts to mitigate against 2023 flooding.
Governor Oyebanji said: “I’m here for two reasons, the first one is to say thanks to NEMA for your support for Ekiti State Government on behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, we are extremely grateful for partnering with us in ensuring that we can mitigate against the effects of natural disaster which naturally will come in Ekiti State,
“I attest to a very robust relationship with Ekiti State and NEMA. If there’s one state that is benefitting and will continue to benefit, Ekiti state is one of them. Most of the time, natural occurrences will not announce that they are coming, but whenever they come most of the time we will be able to respond because of the support from this Agency.
“We have received the NiMET report forecast for this year, we have noted that the rain this year will be longer and that States have to be proactive to mitigate the effect of flooding and other natural disasters.
“As a State, we’ve commenced early preparations toward that, in areas that are prone to flooding, we’ve commenced dredging on our own and we have also started to alert the people to be prepared and we are partnering with Local Governments also to ensure that we reduce the effects of this.
“But we can do more with the support of agencies like NEMA. And that is why I’ve come to my brother.
“So, we are preparing, we just need NEMA to please focus more on Ekiti State, concerning intervention support for our people. Because when natural occurrences happen and you go visit and you see pains in the faces of the people, it beats your heart and most of the time, you are not able to do all. I’m sure NEMA is aware of what happened in Oke Agbo Ekiti where we had like 150 houses blown off. There is a limit to what government can do. The day I sent my Deputy Governor there, they sent pictures to me, that day I couldn’t sleep. I felt so bad. We have intervened within the limited resources available to the State because there are competing needs.
“I’m here now, I heard that it rained yesterday again and another community has been blown off. And in fairness to the people they are trying their best, but there is a limit to what they can do, so I need to handhold my friend’s hand to assist our people.
“We will continue to educate them on the need to also build correctly, on the need to avoid blocking of drainages but that one is an ongoing concern. But while we come to educate also we must be able to respond as a government when things like this happen. This is not going to be my last visit here, I will continue to come, to disturb you and I’ve also invited my Brother to Ekiti State to come and see what we are doing. We’ve spent a lot of money to clear our drains just to prepare for flooding and also to respond to natural occurrences.
“The State Agency is in active collaboration with your Agency and I receive daily reports on the kind of support that you are offering to them. And I can say here unequivocally that these supports are being applied the way you want them applied because when we do this your Agency are always at hand to see that we do things in the way and manner it should be done,” he stated.
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