NEMA trains 154,000 disaster managers

Director-General, NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi
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Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said in Kaduna on Tuesday that the agency would train over 154,000 volunteers corps to be integrated into community resilience groups across the country.

The NEMA boss, who decried the high level of disaster in Nigeria, noted that it became imperative for the agency to set up a community resilience network and peace brigade to assist in the management of disaster in the country.

Also, Kaduna State Government said it had established Local Emergency Management Committee to replicate the State Emergency Management Agency’s effort in the 23 local governments of the state.

At the inauguration of community resilience network and peace brigade, Sani-Sidi said no fewer than 200 volunteers would be selected from each of the 774 local government areas of the country.

He added that by the first quarter of 2014, the training would have been concluded in all the zones.

He stressed the need for a concerted effort in ensuring that disasters in whatever form were reduced in the country.

The NEMA boss said, “There is a remarkable increase in the number of disaster incidents in Nigeria which are mostly hydro-meteorological. This is sending a strong signal that negative impact of climate change is escalating until we rise up to the challenge and stand together to curb it.

“NEMA will continue to work to make the communities safe and happy place to live in. We are working on an existing platform and blue print of having at least two hundred NEMA volunteers in each of the 774 local government areas of the country, thus having at least 154, 000 volunteers nationwide and integrating them into NEMA Community Resilience Network. This will enable every community to understand their core values, how well they protect it and how well they live and support one another.

“The flagging off in the North West Zone, and by the grace of God, by the first quarter of next year, we would have finished the training in all the zones across the country.”