NEMA Blames Poor Disaster Management On Lack Of Coordination Among Stakeholders

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, November 30th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara

ENUGU NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) -The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has blamed poor disaster management in the country on lack of proper synergy and robust collaboration among key stakeholders in disaster handling.

It noted that without effective collaboration and coordination between the Federal, State, local government, and all key stakeholders, the fight against disaster would definitely not yield the desired result.

Speaking in Enugu Tuesday during a one day NEMA/SEMA coordination meeting put together for major actors in disaster handling in Enugu State, south- East zonal Coordinator of the agency, Mr. Udeinya Martins Ejike, emphasised the need for a sincere synergy amongst key stakeholders in the state.

He said his office was committed to replicating the NEMA’s mission statement which is to coordinate resources towards efficient and effective disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response in the south east region.

Udeinya added that the zone under his watch is also disposed towards building a culture of preparedness, prevention, response and community resilience to disaster which he said, is the agency’s vision statement.

The zonal Coordinator, who spoke through the Head of Accounts, south east office of the agency, Mr. Olatunde Mohammed, noted “all over the world, sound disaster management hinges on effective collaboration and coordination among key stakeholders.

According to him,”all stakeholders in disaster management need to be brought together in a properly coordinated manner to facilitate shared understanding of common values and increased consciousness which will eventually lead to reduced vulnerability and increased resilience.

The South East NEMA helmsman, equally posited that coordination in disaster management was vital because of the fact that the immediate aftermath of a disaster is always characterised by a highly complex and chaotic situations with an enormity of urgent and important tasks.

“The vehicle for collaboration and coordination are consultation and dialogue, it is in line with the forgoing that NEMA, south East zone and Enugu state Emergency Management Agency, ESEMA, came together and initiate this biannual coordination meeting which meant to serve as a platform to deepen our conversation on expected roles of each stakeholders in disaster management.

In his brief remarks, the Executive secretary, ESEMA, Mr. Josephat Offor, said the state is always mindful of her responsibilities to protect lives/ properties of her citizens, as well as the socio- economic environment of the state.

The meeting was attended by security operatives such as the Army, police, NSCDC, FRSC, as well as Red Cross, Fire service men, NESREA, among other stakeholders.