The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is working to build befitting Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) for robust response to disaster situations across the country.
Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Datti quoted Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director General, NEMA, as making the disclosure while addressing participants at the ongoing Emergency Operations Centres’ training facilitated by the USAID in Abuja.
Maihaja said that the experience from the response to the 2018 flood in Nigeria shows that the county requires more improvement in the management of disaster situations.
“The 2018 flood in Nigeria has challenged us to improve the way we do things, though we were able to support the states through the establishment of five (5) territorial EOCs and national emergency operation centres.
“We are not resting on our oars, but we are forging ahead to sustain a befitting EOCs for the country.
“As part of the way forward, we will continue to develop the capacity of staff to ensure that all principles and practices of disaster management are institutionalised,” Maihaja said.
Maihaja appreciated the government of United States of America through USAID for partnering with NEMA in the capacity development of its staff, noting that the training has been very helpful.
It stated that the first training, which was conducted in February on Emergency Operation Centre Design Management and Incident Command System, was very helpful and instrumental in NEMA’s response to the 2018 flood.
NEMA DG requested the USAID to sustain the partnership in supporting NEMA to evolve its programmes into global best practices and standards.
He said that NEMA’s engagement with USAID started in 2016 with the Technical Advisors sent to the Agency to conduct capacity assessment of NEMA.
