The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has inaugurated a Technical Working Group on Flood preparedness, Mitigation and Response.
A statement signed by NEMA’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel on Tuesday, said the Director General, Mustapha Habib Ahmed inaugurated the Technical Working Group in Abuja.
TheFact Nigeria learned that the move was intended to strengthen partnership among stakeholders towards efficient flood management in the country.
The Director General said it was in line with the outcome of the recent National Consultative Workshop on 2021 flood organized by the Agency which drew participants from the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Represented by Deputy Director Planning Hajiya Fatima Kasim, the NEMA Director General said: “You will recall that NEMA organized a National Consultative Workshop on 2021 Flood Preparedness, Mitigation and Response in Nigeria in August.
“This was part of series of programs and activities outlined for flood mitigation and response activities in Nigeria for the year.
“At the end of the program, the stakeholders thought as vital among other recommendations to constitute a National Technical Working Group on Flood preparedness, mitigation and response activities.
“The first phase in the implementation of the recommendation is the zeal to inaugurate this group.
“This is to ensure that knowledgeable stakeholders gather to brainstorm and work out improved modalities to drive flood intervention processes in Nigeria”
He also said that the working group would routinely examine flood forecasts from climate services agencies and situational reports from States and provide necessary supports towards appropriate actions to save lives, property and livelihoods.
He affirmed the commitment of the Agency to work with stakeholders towards reducing the impacts of natural and human induced disasters in the country.
The Technical Working Group comprised among others, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Defense, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, National Orientation Agency, FCT Emergency Management Agency and National Space Research and Development Agency.
