The National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Road Safety Corps in Borno state have commenced a strategic collaboration aimed at ensuring coordination in the management of response ahead of possible flooding in Borno state.
Addressing newsmen shortly after a meeting of the agencies in Maiduguri, Surajo Garba, the Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency in Charge of Borno and Yobe state, said the collaboration is part of preparedness measures to prevent inefficiency in management efforts.
He said “Our today’s meeting is part of the preparedness with regards to flooding. We are doing this to be on alert in case of any disaster.
“We have emphasized that each and everyone should understand that multi-agency collaboration is very key” he stressed.
Garba further noted that the collaboration will strengthen manpower and resources required increase timely response.
“By having multiple agencies coming and putting resources together and ensuring that we have a mobile and capable manpower to respond to emergencies, I believe that is when we will be able to do better” he noted.
“We have gone through the safety tips on how to use the live jacket to have safer water ways transport, and emphasised the need to continue to educate users of transporting by water to ensure they do not over load and also travel at the right time” he added.
He, however, called on residents to stay alerted ahead of potential flooding that may occur between September ending and October 10th.
“Based on the advisory that was released. In the states on the list as high risk, the expectation of flood is by ending of September to the first week of October
Also speaking, the State Comptroller of Federal Fire Service, Hassan Liman said through the meeting, emergency agencies have recognised the need for a modality to guide joint operation during emergencies.
He said “Disaster management is everybody’s business. As responding agencies, our aim is to restore normalcy and save lives. So, it is important that all stakeholders come together and look at the way forward, that is exactly what NEMA has done”
“This is a critical period for us, and we are always on alert because of the advisory from Nimet. I believe it is the reason why NEMA also summoned us so that we can brainstorm and come up with modalities incase of anything” Liman said.
He, however commended the NEMA, describing the collaboration as timely.
Others present at the meeting are representatives from the State Emergency Management Agency and the National Inland Waterways.
