The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA has conducted a Route-walk and medical check up for staff to build Preparedness for emergency responses.
The Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar who led the 5 kilometre walk said “the exercise is a declaration of NEMA’s full operational readiness for timely and effective response to emergencies during the Yuletide season and beyond.”
Mrs Umar assured Nigerians that NEMA has activated its preparedness mechanisms nationwide and is working in close coordination with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, emergency responders and other critical agencies to ensure rapid response to any emergency situation during the festive period.
She said; ” The reason we started in December is for all of you to know that December is the climax of the’Ember’ period, and in line with our disaster risk strategies, this is part of it where we all come out, we make sure we’re all fit, that we can respond to any emergency that may come our way.”
” It’s also our way of engaging Nigerians for them to know to be very careful, we’re in December and we all know what happens during ‘Ember’ months from driving to airplanes, to know that NEMA is there for each and every Nigerian, in case of assistance, we’re here to respond rapidly,” She explained
Mrs Umar also noted with satisfaction the level of fitness, discipline and operational preparedness of the staff.
“Once there’s an emergency and you work with NEMA, you’ll have to help,” She added
Also speaking, the Director, Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman explained that the fitness exercise is a routine activity designed to keep personnel physically and mentally prepared for emergency response operations at all times.
“We’ve also drawn a programme, this exercise will not end today, we’ll be having similar exercises at designated sporting facilities within Abuja and other stations,”Usman said
She assured Nigerians that NEMA has activated its preparedness mechanisms nationwide and is working in close coordination with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, emergency responders, and other critical agencies, to ensure rapid response to any emergency situation during the festive period.