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Tag: NEMA

  • NEMA commiserates with Lagos govt over Dosunmu market fire

    NEMA commiserates with Lagos govt over Dosunmu market fire

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commiserated with the Lagos State Government and traders at Dosunmu market over the inferno that led to the collapse of six buildings and impacted 16 others.

    The Director-General, NEMA, Hajia Zubaida Umar, while speaking with newsmen at the scene of the fire incident at Dosunmu market, on Friday in Lagos, said the government displayed exemplary leadership.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar was in Lagos to commiserate with the state and ascertain the impact of the fire.

    She commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos office of NEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service for diligently responding to the fire incident.

    The D-G said her first port of call in Lagos was the governor’s office, and she described the governor as committed and dedicated.

    She noted that the pronouncement of the governor had started impacting the market as residents had started bringing down their generators from the high rise buildings.

    Umar said the zonal office of NEMA had a meeting with about 20 market associations about two weeks ago on the Island to work out prevention measures against incessant fire outbreaks.

    According to her, LASEMA is doing its best to ensure the safety of lives and property of traders in Lagos markets.

    She said emergency responders in the state would continue to sensitise Lagos residents on safety.

    “NEMA is here to commiserate with the good people of Lagos state. We’re also here to work closely with Lagos on disaster management.

    “Now that we have done this assessment, we’re going to sit back and see the needs and know what to do in terms of relief intervention, but most importantly, the way forward.

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    “I’m quite impressed with what the fire services have done in Lagos state.

    “They were able to pull down some of the buildings around so that the fire does not spread all the way and they were able to contain it right behind where we are seeing the wreckage,” Umar said.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Osanyintolu, said the governor had taken clear ownership and provided political will on how to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

    Osanyintolu said the governor was at the scene of the incident and had a robust conversation with stakeholders at the market.

    He said the governor advised property owners not to cut corners during the construction of their structures, adding that the right thing should be done to prevent future occurrence.

    The permanent secretary advised Lagos residents to remain calm as the state government was on top of the challenges confronting them.

    NAN reports that the Dosunmu inferno, which consumed property worth billions of naira is one too many.

    Evacuation of the rubbles continues as smoke is still visibly coming out from some of the buildings that collapsed.

    (NAN)

  • NEMA boss orders deployment of search, rescue equipment, others

    NEMA boss orders deployment of search, rescue equipment, others

    The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has directed that all newly acquired search and rescue equipment and consumables for the agency’s zonal and operation offices should be prepared for easy deployment.

    She said this is part of the preparation for the predictable floods that usually occur during the rainy season and other disasters that happen across the country.

    Mrs. Umar gave the directive when she visited NEMA’s warehouses in Abuja to ascertain the agency’s relief materials and operational equipment.

    A statement yesterday by NEMA’s Head of Press, Manzo Ezekiel, said some of the equipment to be deployed include mobile water purification equipment, mobile incident command vehicles, incident response vehicles, life jackets and other lifesaving gadgets currently stored at the NEMA warehouse and other storage locations in Abuja.

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    The director general emphasised the importance of timely response to disasters, saying prompt response could only be achieved through proactive measures.

    Such measures, she explained, include the repositioning of equipment and training of personnel to operate the lifesaving assets in the course of disasters.

    Mrs. Umar also directing that there should be regular stocktaking of relief items in NEMA warehouses nationwide, stressing that the agency’s officials should take note of the expiration of the items for timely deployment to persons in need during an emergency.

  • NEMA to distribute KS relief food items to 5,606 vulnerable households

    NEMA to distribute KS relief food items to 5,606 vulnerable households

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it will distribute food items to 5,606 vulnerable persons in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina States and an educational foundation in Maiduguri, Borno state.

    The food items were donated by a Saudi Arabia-based international humanitarian organization, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).

    The donations are packs of food baskets consisting of 25kg rice, 25kg beans, 4kg masa vita flour, 2 litres vegetable oil, 2kg tomato paste, 0.8kg seasoning cubes, and 1kg salt.

    NEMA in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel stated that 5,606 households will benefit from the donation, adding that each household is expected to get 59.8 kg of the food basket.

    He added that beneficiaries of the food items were jointly enumerated by NEMA and the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina.

    On the number of beneficiaries per State, Ezekiel stated: “The number of beneficiaries expected to receive the items in Kano State are 2,056 households, with 1,750 households each in Jigawa and Katsina States.

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    “50 food baskets will be shared with vulnerable persons in camps and host communities identified by the non-governmental organisation in Maiduguri, Borno state.”

    On how the distribution would be carried out, he stated: “The food items will be distributed directly to the beneficiaries by staff of NEMA and SEMA of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states.

    “However, the distribution in Borno State would be done by a local non-governmental organization, Taibah Educational Foundation, and supervised by NEMA staff.”

    King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre previously donated food baskets, which were distributed by NEMA in Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Kano States. 

  • Idumota fire: NEMA cautions traders on safety

    Idumota fire: NEMA cautions traders on safety

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised traders at Dosumu Market, Idumota, Lagos, to reinforce the security architecture of the market to ensure safety of their lives and property.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen at the scene of the fire incident on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Farinloye said metal protectors used to secure the shops stood in the way of fire fighters in their attempt to put out the fire.

    He noted that after the Mandilas fire incident, the agency and other critical stakeholders embarked on disaster risk reduction advocacy around major markets on the Lagos Island.

    He said the agency had appealed to the traders to contribute money to install water hydrants around the market in case of fire emergency, but the traders refused to comply.

    He confirmed that the fire engulfed four buildings, adding that two of the buildings had already collapsed due to the impact of the inferno.

    NAN gathered that fire fighters found it difficult to access the buildings when they arrived the scene.

    Read Also: I won’t disappoint, new NEMA DG pledges

    The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said the service got wind of the incident at about 7. 41 a.m., and she immediately mobilised fire fighters to the scene.

    Adeseye said the presence of an overwhelming crowd at the scene of the incident became a challenge for fire fighters in accessing the buildings.

    She noted that another challenge was that two of the buildings were already engulfed by fire, adding that high tension electrical cables around the buildings made access cumbersome.

    Also speaking, the Iya Loja-General of Lagos Island, Chief (Mrs) Risikat Lasisi, appealed to the government to come to the aid of the traders.

    Lasisi said goods worth hundreds of millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.

    According to her, some traders who could not bear the pain of the loss of their property fainted and were rushed to the hospital.

    She added that some of the traders borrowed money from banks to finance their businesses.

    One of the traders, Mr Uche Obi, said each shop was levied N5,000 each to purchase water hydrant for the market, but added that not many traders had paid, hence they were not installed.

    On the issue of insurance, Obi said he wasn’t sure if traders at the market subscribed to any insurance policy.

    NAN reports that the scene of the fire incident was quite emotional as traders who lost their property were seen crying uncontrollably.

    Emergency responders at the scene of the incident included NEMA, Lagos State and Federal Fire Services, the Police, fire fighters from the Nigeria Ports Authority, and the Lagos Emergency Management Agency. (NAN)

  • I won’t disappoint, new NEMA DG pledges

    I won’t disappoint, new NEMA DG pledges

    The newly appointed Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has vowed not to disappoint President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians in the discharge of her new role.

    She disclosed this while assuming duty at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    She received the handover note from the outgoing Director General, Mustapha Ahmed, whose tenure commenced on 31st May 2021 and ended on 15th March 2024.

    Ahmed before handing over, urged Umar to partner with relevant stakeholders to curb the reoccurring disasters and also encourage Nigerians to be resilient.

    Umar said her priority at the agency is to ensure that interventions of government are timely, efficient, and impactful and carried out in an accountable and transparent manner.

    She also described her appointment as steps taken towards gender equality and inclusive leadership in Nigeria.

    She said: “It is with a great sense of humility that I stand before this great team today to assume the mantle of leadership of this intervention agency of government which principally among others deals with the management of disaster and emergencies in Nigeria.

    “This milestone is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the stride we are making towards gender equality and inclusive leadership in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints Zubaida Umar new NEMA DG

    “I’m deeply grateful for the trust and confidence entrusted in me and Mr. President and I accept this honest role with honesty and dedication to serve my country, I shall not disappoint God willing.”

    On her plans for the agency, she said: “We will expand our capacity and ability to effectively carry out our mandates through proactive and innovative service delivery in emergency management.

    I therefore acknowledge the respective contributions and pledge to build on the legacies of past DGs with deliberate focus, humility, and determination.

    “Under my watch, I intend to lead by example and in collaboration with our partners to set standards and parameters for our emergency management.

    “The priority will be ensuring that our interventions are timely, efficient and impactful and carried out in an accountable and transparent manner.

    “We must work to earn the trust and confidence of Nigerians in line with this administration’s renewed hope agenda. To kick start the process, I intend to consult widely with the management staff, field officers, and staff of the agency on current administrative and operational strategy to improve our areas of deficiencies.”

    To the staff of the agencies, she said: “It will not be business as usual under my watch as every staff member will be held accountable moving forward.

    “There will be no room for toying with people’s lives, disasters, or emergencies. I solicit concrete suggestions and ideas for improving the way we do things.

    “I am filled with optimism as I embark on this journey with you my colleagues, together we have the resilience, and ingenuity to surmount the challenges that may come our way, let us unite in purpose, forge ahead with courage and build more effective emergency response agency through innovative, proactive and effective service delivery”.

  • Tinubu appoints Zubaida Umar new NEMA DG

    Tinubu appoints Zubaida Umar new NEMA DG

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Mrs Umar’s appointment was made public in a statement issued yesterday evening by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    “Mrs Umar’s appointment further underlines the President’s avowed commitment to gender inclusion.

    “The new Director-General of NEMA has over 20 years of work experience in diverse fields, including Human Resources, and Finance and Administration. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Credit Administration.

    Read Also: Hoodlums, NEMA and sentry duty

    “She holds ACCA certifications in Public Financial Management and Digital & Sustainability Financing.

    “As Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank, Mrs. Umar drove the strategy and repositioning of the bank and successfully facilitated the transformation of the institution into a modern, digitized mortgage and financial service provider.

    “The President expects that the new Director-General will bring the much-needed financial and operational discipline and refashion the agency into a performance-driven and proactive emergency response provider with a focus on prevention and climate change readiness in the execution of its core mandate,” the statement said.

  • Tinubu appoints Zubaida Umar new NEMA DG

    Tinubu appoints Zubaida Umar new NEMA DG

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Umar’s appointment was made public in a statement on Friday evening by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. 

    “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Read Also: Warehouse looting: No cause for alarm in Lagos, say NEMA, police

    “Mrs Umar’s appointment further underlines the President’s avowed commitment to gender inclusion.

    “The new Director-General of NEMA has over 20 years of work experience in diverse fields, including Human Resources, and Finance and Administration. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Institute of Credit Administration.

    “She holds ACCA certifications in Public Financial Management and Digital & Sustainability Financing.

    “As Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services at the Federal Mortgage Bank, Mrs. Umar drove the strategy and repositioning of the bank and successfully facilitated the transformation of the institution into a modern, digitized mortgage and financial service provider.

    “The President expects that the new Director-General will bring the much-needed financial and operational discipline and refashion the agency into a performance-driven and proactive emergency response provider with a focus on prevention and climate change readiness in the execution of its core mandate,”the statement reads.

  • Hoodlums, NEMA and sentry duty

    Hoodlums, NEMA and sentry duty

    By constitutional provisions, the core task of the Nigerian military is defence of the country’s territorial integrity against external aggression. Sections 217 to 220 of the 1999 Constitution prescribe other likely duties to include suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order “when called upon to do so by the President, but subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly (NASS);” and performing other similar functions as may be prescribed by an Act of the NASS. It is doubtful that in all these, the constitution envisaged military personnel keeping sentry duty at consumables warehouses.

    But that is what the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is calling on the military to do. The agency lately requested that military personnel be posted at its warehouses to forestall security breach. It made the request against the backdrop of a recent attack on a government warehouse in Abuja suburbs by hoodlums who looted food items and other valuables from the facility. The warehouse belonging to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was initially reported to be NEMA’s; but the agency came up to disclaim ownership and its Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed, ordered improved security at NEMA zonal offices and warehouses nationwide to avert similar incident.

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    Towards implementing that directive, NEMA Northwest Zonal Coordinator, Imam Garki, last week visited the Commanding Officer, 2 Battalion Nigerian Army in Kaduna, Lieutenant-Col. Abdulqadir Abdullahi, to “solicit military support to have a standby security personnel positioned to safeguard the agency’s warehouse facilities.” Represented by Head of Unit, Search and Rescue of the agency, Abdulkadir Mohammed, the NEMA chieftain noted that the agency already has a working relationship with the Army, which serves as one of its Disaster Response Units (DRUs). He said the visit was in order to strengthen security at the agency’s various warehouses. In his response, the commanding officer assured the agency of the Army`s continuing cooperation to deal with emergent situations.

    It wasn’t clear if the Army boss merely spoke in glib terms; but obliging to post soldiers on sentry duty at warehouses harbouring consumables to deter fist-wielding hoodlums is stretching the military’s involvement in domestic law-keeping too far. The Army’s role as one of NEMA’s DRUs is perfectly understood in view of the extreme exertion typically involved in response to disasters. But keeping largely sedentary sentry duty at consumables warehouses isn’t of the same task mould and smacks of resource abuse. What are police personnel and private security agents for if the military have to be assigned to watch over warehouses.

  • Warehouse looting: No cause for alarm in Lagos, say NEMA, police

    Warehouse looting: No cause for alarm in Lagos, say NEMA, police

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the police have said there was no cause of alarm in Lagos over looting of palliative warehouses.

    NEMA’s Lagos Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, told The Nation on telephone that steps had already been taken for effective distribution of palliatives in the state.

    According to him, NEMA in Lagos had emplaced measures to protect the food items in its custody in line with the directive of the federal government.

    Read Also: Warehouse looting: Police, NEMA on red alert against hoodlums in Lagos

    The Nation reports that following Sunday’s looting of a food bank in Abuja and the attack on trucks conveying food stuff in Niger State, the federal government issued a directive to interventionist ministries and agencies to ensure the protection of all government facilities under them.

    To this end, Farinloye stressed that there was no foodstuff at any government warehouse in Lagos, adding that as usual, NEMA would ensure the palliatives got to those they were intended for in due time.

    “There’s no single food item in the warehouses but all critical stakeholders are on standby for any attempt by anyone to break into them.

  • Warehouse looting: Police, NEMA on red alert against hoodlums in Lagos

    Warehouse looting: Police, NEMA on red alert against hoodlums in Lagos

    The Police Command in Lagos State and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have placed their operatives on red alert against any attack on warehouses and shopping malls.

    The Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

    Hundeyin said that the command had tightened security around the different shopping malls and government warehouses with food items in the state  to prevent possible attack by hoodlums.

    NAN recalls  that a warehouse belonging to the Federal Capital Territory’s Department of Agriculture, was broken into by hoodlums in Bwari Area Council.

    Also, trucks conveying food items were also looted by some residents in Niger State.

    Hundeyin told NAN that the command was living up to its responsibility of providing security to all and sundry in Lagos.

    He, however, noted that the command was not anticipating any such attack, stressing that the deployment was just to check acts of violence in the state.

    “The Command is just being alive to its responsibilities. In fact, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, has deployed personnel to vulnerable places.

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    “Area Commanders, Heads of Tactical Teams and DPOs have also been briefed in that regard.

    “Operatives of the state anti-crime outfit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), have also been briefed on the need to keep close watch on government warehouses and malls, where food items and beverages are sold,” he said.

    Similarly, NEMA in the South-West Region, said it’s management had beefed up security around their warehouses.

    The Coordinator of NEMA in the South-West Zone, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, disclosed this to NAN on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to Farinloye, the move is to forestall any attack on government warehouses by miscreants, who may want to hide under the cover of the current challenge in the country, to break into facilities  where food items are stored.

    “Although, there’s no single food item in the warehouses but all critical stakeholders are on standby for any attempt by anyone to break into them.”

    Adding that they had been directed to beef up security for the safety of all assets of government in the region.

    “We are taking worse scenario precautionary safety measures to safeguard both human and other assets of the Federal Government from unforeseen circumstances,” he said.

    (NAN)