NigeriaNews24

Tag: NEMA

  • CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    CSOs React To Jackson Ude, Sahara Reporters False Allegations On NEMA

    • Says Ude’s allegations, baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading
    • Commends Tinubu on Steve Oronsaye’s report.

    The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) and Integrity Advocacy for Development Initiative (IADI), has reacted to reports emanating from the twitter handle of controversial journalist, Jackson Ude, where he alleged that the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), looted 3 billion naira via contract racketeering in one month.

    Reacting to this allegation during a press briefing, at the weekend in Abuja, the coalition led by Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, and Chris Ofomhi, described the allegations as another attempt on blackmail, campaign of calumny.

    While providing detailed explanation to the issue, they said one had to have a deeper understanding of how NEMA operates, adding that “NEMA is an interventionist organization whose major mandate is to address issues that require urgent and prompt responses and in doing so, the agency most times carries out emergency procurement in line with the stipulations of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and other extant regulations.”

    They,however, said the DG should be commended for initiatives he had brought to reshape the agency.

    They said: “The allegations that the DG of NEMA looted over N3 billion between January and February is baseless, unfounded, malicious and highly misleading.

    “Mustapha Habib Ahmed’s tenure as the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been a tenure marked by a series of commendable achievements, commitment, leadership showmanship, dedication, strategic and sterling vision in handling emergency response and disaster management in Nigeria.

    “Overtime, he has played a pivotal role in raising public awareness about disaster preparedness and mitigation whilst through commitment to innovation and collaboration, positioned NEMA as a key player in disaster management not only within Nigeria but on the global stage.

    “The DG deserves much better than to be placed on twitter if not a social media grill. Under his leadership, the Agency developed solutions to emerging challenges that will enable performance of its functions in line with international humanitarian standards.

    “In a world where integrity and sincerity can, at times, be scarce, it is crucial to note that the expository in question lacked detailed facts and credibility, as it heavily relied on hearsay and not absolute fact.

    “It therefore poses on the readers and digesters of such cancerous reportage to pose crucial questions before accepting false information as infallible truth.”

    In a related development, the coalition also frowned at a recent publication on one of the online news outlets on calls to probe NEMA over alleged failure to refund $4.8 minion unspent after Nigerians’ evacuation from Ukraine.

    “What is unknown to them is that NEMA actually refunded unspent balance of the approved fund to the tune of $648,600 USD in two batches of $450,300 and $198,300 respectively to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “From the above finding, it is obvious that the allegation is frivolous and baseless. Instead of the frivolous allegations, the National Emergency Management Agency deserved to be commended for being diligent in carrying out the national assignment of safely bringing stranded compatriots back home, and also being prudent in the application and expending of the allocated fund for the project”.

    The coalition also in same vein, commended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which came with gratifying reforms, one of which is the implementation of the Steve Oronsaye Report, an action scheduled to restructure and rationalize federal government agencies and parastatals to reduce costs of governance, streamline operations, and improve efficiency.

     

  • International Disaster Day: Kano SEMA outlines plan on fighting disasters in the state

    International Disaster Day: Kano SEMA outlines plan on fighting disasters in the state

    Dr Saleh Jili, Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA), says the agency was collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) in preventing and mitigating incidences of disaster in the state.

    Jili, made the disclosure at a press briefing to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Risk Management, in Kano, on Wednesday.

    He described the day as a global event marked annually on Oct.13, by the United Nations with the 2021 theme being: “enhancing collaboration cooperation” only together.

    The SEMA boss said that the international day for disaster reduction began in 1989 after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.

    He added that the day had helped government agencies to keep proper data on various degrees of disaster, to enable the preparation of plans for a remedy or preventions of disasters.

    The Kano SEMA had confirmed records of 29 persons killed and 14,244 houses destroyed by flood in 12 Local Government Areas of the state from January to October, he said.

    He added that the day created room for data collection, such that “in 2020, 57,362 houses were destroyed, 26 persons lost their lives and 19 persons were injured and that the information was helpful to the government.”

    Jili said the benefits of the day’s celebration included making people and communities, around the world, to be aware of the dangers posed by disasters, leading to the right attitudes by people on exposure to disasters and its attendant risks.

    The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted flooding, to be caused by heavy rainfall in 25 Local Government Areas of the state, including Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni, Doguwa Local Governments, amongst others, according to the SEMA executive secretary.

    “We have taken prompt, rapid response, by visiting the affected local government areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of state government and distributed relief materials as to alleviate their suffering,” he added.

    He disclosed  that the state experienced less flooding in 2021, when compared to 2020, due to the information available that helped the agency to ensure less casualties of flood disasters in 2021.

    Jili further explained that the agency had also established the State Disaster Management Committee and Technical Committee on disaster management to ensure that adequate attention was accorded to disasters when they occurred in the state.

    “The agency has embarked on public enlightenment campaigns on radio, TV, market places and communities across the 44 local government of the state to ensure they clear water ways, to minimise flooding,” he said

    He commended  the state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for his commitment to the agency which enabled it to achieve huge results in areas of disaster checks and management in the state.

    Jili urged the residents to take home benefits of the day’s celebrations, develop good habits about safe environments by freeing the drainage systems in front of their houses to prevent flood, assuring that the  government  and the agency would not relent in their efforts at ensuring the protection of lives and property of the people in times of disaster.

    Also, he commended media practitioners in the state for their relentless efforts at information dissemination and campaign against flood disasters and prevention tips offered through radio, TV and the print media. (NAN)

  • Disaster Response: NEMA, FCT Fire Service to strengthen collaboration

    Disaster Response: NEMA, FCT Fire Service to strengthen collaboration

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja Operations Office, says it will strengthen collaboration with the FCT Fire Service in regards to disaster response in the Federal Capital Territory.
    Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Head, Abuja Operations Office, NEMA, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja, when he paid a courtesy visit to the FCT Fire Service.

    Uwazuruonye, who noted that the visit was aimed at consolidating on its existing partnership and to draw up actions for emergency response in cases of flood, fire incidences and collapsed structures.

    “We are here as we know that Fire Service is the lead organisation when it comes to fire, flood and collapsed structures and we are in the critical period of disasters as these.

    “Therefore we expect our lead organisation to heighten her preparedness to these incidences to mitigate the negative impact on damages to properties, lives and livelihoods,” he said.

    He added that the agency on its part would be organising periodic meetings and trainings among emergency stakeholders to master the use of emergency equipment.

    He added that the agency would also partner the service to give disaster risk reduction and prevention campaign to enable Nigerians take necessary steps to prevent man-made disasters in the country.

    Responding, the Acting Director, FCT Fire Service, Sani Saidu appreciated the agency for the visit and assured of its readiness to partner and work towards responding effectively to disasters in the FCT.

    Saidu, who expressed displeasure over the use of sub-standard materials in the construction of buildings by some contractors, stressed the need for them to desist from such.

    “We all know that buildings like that will not be strong and it will end up collapsing, sometimes, while workers are still working on it.

    “These type of incidences are man-made and are not natural, which can be prevented,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit ended with an inspection of disaster response equipment by the both agencies. (NAN)

  • NEMA records zero accident on roads in S/East in Eld-el-Kabir — Official

    NEMA records zero accident on roads in S/East in Eld-el-Kabir — Official

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it recorded zero accident on roads within South-East during Special Operation Eagle Eyes for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    The South-East Coordinator of NEMA, Mr James Eze, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Enugu after debriefing NEMA’s 25-man staff deployed for the operation.

    According to Eze, no accident was recorded on major road corridors within the South-East during the period of the operation.

    He said: “Although it was herculean covering the four major road corridors during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration and holidays, however, I must commend the resilience of NEMA staff in the zone.

    “We recorded no accident on any of the four major expressways we covered during the operation.

    “NEMA staff in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) carried out massive education on good road habits to motorists. Motorists really appreciated it,” he said.

    The coordinator also lauded motorists for heeding to the call to minimise speed and accommodating other road users during the Eld-el-Kabir holidays.

    “With very few exceptions, most motorists displayed high level of responsibility on the major road corridors covered in the five-day period,’’ he said.

    Eze also hailed the collaboration of the Agency and FRSC, adding that it was seamless.

    “We look forward to greater working synergy with FRSC, other agencies and commissions that deal with safety and response to emergencies.

    “Collaboration is the key in order for agencies and commissions to tap from the strength and best practices of each other,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that the Special Operation Eagle Eyes tagged: “Safe Eid-el-Kabir’’ lasted for five days, from July 18, until July 22.

    The major roads covered included: Enugu – Abakaliki Road; Enugu – Awka – Onitsha Road; Enugu – 9th Mile – Nsukka – Obollo-Afor Road and Enugu – Umuahia – Aba – Port-Harcourt Road.

    The Federal Government through NEMA staged the operation in collaboration with FRSC to ensure hitch-free flow of traffic and Nigerians getting quick emergency response to issues on the major roads. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)