The Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Thursday inaugurated Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) for all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to enhance disaster preparedness and response.
Speaking at the event in Umuahia, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, urged committee members to take their responsibilities seriously while pledging the government’s support.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr. Sunday Jackson, said the committees, chaired by the LGA Mayors, would serve as first responders in their respective areas. He noted that the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had directed all states to establish LEMCs to enable prompt disaster response.
Jackson recalled that SEMA had, in September, established and strengthened the capacity of LEMC members in preparation for their official inauguration. He emphasized the importance of decentralizing emergency coordination for rapid response and promised the provision of necessary resources for effective operations.
He also commended Governor Alex Otti for proactive measures to mitigate disaster risks. “The governor provided the enabling environment for us to implement this inauguration seamlessly. He has been working tirelessly to make Abia a disaster-resilient state, and I am highly impressed by his actions,” Jackson said.
In a goodwill message, the Head of Operations for NEMA (Imo and Abia), Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, said the inauguration was critical to supporting the Federal Government in disaster management.
“Emergencies should not be managed only at the top level; local response is essential. You are the first responders in these situations, and training is necessary to know what actions to take,” he said. Igwe also highlighted earlier Basic First Aid training conducted by the Nigerian Red Cross Society and called on stakeholders to continue building the capacity of committee members.
Responding, Mr. Celestine Nnabugwu, Head of Service and member of the committee for Isialangwa South LGA, described the inauguration as a positive development. “It’s good that disaster management is now domiciled at the local level. I believe it will go a long way in addressing emergency problems,” he said.
It was reported that emergency kits were distributed to representatives of the committees in each LGA.
