2024 Flood Prediction : NEMA DG visits NSCDC to enhance flood response partnership

Photo shows L-R: Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi, receives a souvenir from the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, during a visit by the Director General of NEMA to deepen mutual support and collaboration between the two agencies at the NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 11th June 2024.

In a move to bolster their partnership for emergency response, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, visited the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. The visit aimed to strengthen their collaboration in anticipation of potential flood incidents predicted to affect several communities across the country this year.

During her remarks, Mrs. Umar emphasized the importance of the NSCDC activating its emergency response teams to work closely with NEMA in the event of floods and associated secondary disasters. 

She expressed gratitude for the NSCDC's reliability as a partner to NEMA and drew attention to the impending floods in various communities, as forecasted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) as the rainy season intensifies.

Mrs. Umar's visit was a follow-up to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by NEMA and NSCDC, aimed at enhancing their joint efforts in saving lives, livelihoods, and restoring normalcy in the event of emergencies.

Specifically, 148 LGAs in 31 States of the Federation are predicted to be within the high flood risk areas while 249 LGAs in 35 States and the FCT are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas during the 2024 rainy season.

In a press release signed by Manzo Ezekiel, Head, NEMA Press Unit, Mrs. Umar said the visit was also aimed at appreciating the Commandant General of NSCDC for the consistent partnership which NSCDC staff afford her agency by being readily within reach in every community of Nigeria to lend a helping hand to NEMA staff on deployment to conduct damage and loss assessment and relief intervention across the nation.

“Not long ago NEMA handed over assorted food items approved by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for distribution to vulnerable persons in all the states of Nigeria and the FCT. That distribution could not have been a success without the NSCDC providing safety and security to NEMA staff, the beneficiaries and the relief items distributed. 

“The NSCDC has provided safety and protected the dignity of women, children and the elderly living in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps and those forced to take refuge in host communities as a result of disaster situations,” she added.

According to the NEMA boss, through the stakeholders’ engagement, NEMA would ensure proper safety, security and dignity of Nigerians before, during and after sudden disasters and emergency situations.

Responding, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, assured that his organization will continue to uphold the existing partnership with NEMA. He however, requested that NEMA should facilitate specialized training for NSCDC staff in identified areas of support to the mandates of the agency.

It could be recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have predicted that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 31 States of the Federation are within the high flood risk areas while 249 LGAs in 35 States and the FCT are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas during the 2024 rainy season.
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