The Nigerian Government has received disaster risk reduction equipment and vehicles from the Government of Japan
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq received the items in Abuja, which were donated through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.
“We are all aware of the effects of many disasters faced last year, including those related to insurgency, floods, banditry, communal disturbances, windstorms and ENDSARS violence, but most especially that of the Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19),“ she said
The Director-General, NEMA, AVM Muhammad noted that the COVID 19 pandemic ravaged the world leading to a complete lockdown of activities throughout the globe.
” A total of 2,353,647 people were affected by the 2020 flood disaster while the Agency delivered humanitarian support to 148 incidents where assessments were carried out, approved and relief materials distributed to the affected persons.
“These are in addition to the monthly distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons living in camps in Borno and Adamawa States,“ he disclosed.
The Japanese Government represented by the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr Shinozawa Takayuki, said that the decision to strengthen disaster risk reduction worldwide was taken at the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.
“On that occasion, the Government of Japan pledged USD 4 billion financial cooperation and training of 40,000 government officials and local leaders in four years. Hence, this project we are commissioning today, which is worth a total of JPY 500 million meant to support Nigeria’s efforts to equip NEMA and other emergency operation centres with disaster reduction-related products of Japanese enterprises, is part of the fulfilment of that pledge for Nigeria.” Mr Takayuki said
The equipment and vehicles are specialised for the search and rescue of persons in distress.
Donated Items received are; 9 units of Rescue vehicles with rescue equipment and 4 units of mobile water purifier systems with vehicles.
PIAK
