The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised all state governments in Nigeria to make emergency plans to deal with flooding and other disasters.
NEMA’s Head of Operations for Abia and Imo States, Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, gave this advice on Sunday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri, Imo State.
This advice came after a five-day training workshop for emergency responders on how to prepare for disasters and respond to floods.
Mr. Igwe said the workshop was very important because of the ongoing rainy season, rising flood cases, and weather predictions. He stressed that Imo State needs to have a solid emergency plan to tackle these challenges.
He explained that having a well-prepared plan would help emergency responders focus on the specific needs of affected areas and ensure NEMA coordinates the efforts smoothly.
After the workshop, he said it would be important to document the strategies discussed so they can be added to the state’s official disaster response plans.
Mr. Igwe encouraged state governments and emergency agencies to conduct regular simulation exercises to test their preparedness and improve their response.
He also called for regular meetings between stakeholders to keep communication and coordination active even after the training.
Igwe said these efforts would prevent responders from being caught unprepared during disasters. He noted that this would improve their readiness and give disaster victims a better chance of survival.
“State governments must not wait until disasters happen before taking action. They should make clear plans ahead of time to protect lives and property,” he said.
He added that disasters often create situations where people’s rights can be abused or neglected. Therefore, protective measures must be put in place to safeguard vulnerable groups.
Finally, Igwe encouraged emergency responders to stay hopeful and continue working closely with NEMA to achieve the best possible outcomes in disaster management.
