Flooding: NEMA, Ekiti state government to set up disaster committee

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), says there is need to set up a local disaster management committee to strengthen grassroots response to disasters.

Director General, NEMA, Mustapha Habib stated this when the Governor of Ekiti State, South West Nigeria, Biodun Adebanji paid him a working visit in his office in Abuja, Nigeria.

According to him, setting up the committee will avert the repeat of 2022 flood disaster across the federation.

He commended the Ekiti State Governor for the steps taken so far to avert the flood prediction for the year assuring it of the Agency’s willingness for partnership in the areas of disaster management.

Speaking earlier, the Ekiti State Governor, commended NEMA for its support on behalf of the Federal Government to persons that were affected by the 2022 flood that devastated some communities in the State.

According to him, NEMA under the leadership of the Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed has been proactive in the management of disasters in the country, noting that the timely relief intervention by the Agency in 2022, provided the much desired succor to the affected persons.

Governor Oyebanji, therefore asked for partnership with NEMA towards the management of flood that have been predicted for the year, which may affect many Local Government Areas, including parts of Ekiti State.

In response to the flood prediction for the year 2023, the Governor said, “Ekiti State has commenced actions aimed at preventing and mitigating risk of the flood.

“The measures include dredging of water ways, partnering Leadership of Local Government Areas amongst others.”

Governor Oyebanji further stated that the state Government had provided some supports within its limited resources but discovered that were insufficient, hence the call for further supports from NEMA.