During the launch of early warning measures in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General of NEMA, revealed that the agency would collaborate with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
Ahmed expressed confidence that this initiative would empower all stakeholders to make informed decisions to mitigate future flood occurrences, support disaster risk management, and foster sustainable socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
Ahmed expressed his satisfaction with the presence of experts from NIHSA and NiMet, who would support the implementation of disaster early warning measures at the grassroots level, specifically during the rainy season.
Furthermore, experts from NEMA, NiMet, and NIHSA would be deployed to all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to ensure the dissemination of early warning messages to relevant end users across various socio-economic sectors.
The Director-General mentioned that NEMA had written to all state governors, alerting them to the potential risks of floods and associated hazards during the rainy season, in order to prevent a repeat of the 2022 flood disaster.
He commended the Akwa Ibom Government for their collaboration with NEMA in promoting effective flood disaster management and highlighted the establishment of a NEMA Operations Office in Uyo, which would enhance collaboration and elevate disaster risk management efforts.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, who initiated the early warning measures in the state, pledged to maintain a strong working relationship with NEMA, building upon the foundation laid by the previous administration to prevent future flood disasters.
Professor Mansur Matazu, the Director General of NiMET, emphasized the need for early warnings to be accompanied by timely action in order to prevent disasters and minimize losses. He called on states to foster inter-agency collaborations to facilitate early action in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Matazu assured that NiMET would continue investing in the production of timely, reliable, and actionable early warnings.
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