Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Thursday inaugurated 135 members of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) to strengthen flood disaster preparedness and response across the state.
The committees, comprising five members each from the 27 Local Government Areas, were inaugurated during a two-day training workshop in Owerri.
Represented by Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Uzodimma said the initiative was to decentralise disaster management, ensuring proactive measures at the grassroots.
“We don’t have to wait for disasters to occur before taking action. The committees will prevent disaster by monitoring environmental indices for necessary proactive measures,” he said.
South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Wilson Brandon, praised Imo for being the first state in the South-East and South-South to establish LEMCs, stressing their role in grassroots disaster response.
Other speakers, including local government chairmen and NEMA officials, commended the initiative as a proactive step toward community resilience and disaster risk reduction.
The members will be equipped with first aid kits, fire safety tools, and reflective jackets, and are expected to cascade the training to communities.
