Obiano tasks FG to establish flood emergency centres

An appeal has gone to the Federal Government to show visible commitment towards fulfilling its earlier promise to build a Centre for flood emergencies at Nzam in Anambra West Council Area of Anambra state.

Photo: Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (fourth right) with others at the flooded area of Osamalla, Anambra State

The state governor, Willie Obiano made the call when he received a delegation from the SouthEast Zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA).

The NEMA team was led by Mr Martin Odenya, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka.

Gov Obiano said it has become imperative for the Federal Government to build the centre in the state.

He said it will serve as a proactive measure in response to the incident of flooding which usually submerge the entire riverine Council areas of the state whenever it occurs.

The Governor noted that on its part, the State government had established 22 camps for Internally-displaced persons [IDPS] across the State.

He called on NEMA to assist with the supply of safety equipment and provision of conveniences at the Camps.

Also, he solicited support for the state’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to improve on its emergency response capacity.

Gov Obiano also made a case for the inclusion of Ndi Anambra who lost their property and means of livelihood as a result of the insurgency in some Northern states in the list of Internally Displaced Persons who will receive succour from the Federal Government.

The Leader of the Delegation and Southeast Zonal Chairman of NEMA, Mr Odenya said the Agency is introducing new initiatives that will engender a paradigm shift from disaster management to disaster risk reduction where the people’s capacity will be built on how to pre-empt and avert disasters.

He thanked Gov Obiano for his support to SEMA as an implementation arm of the Federal Agency which needs to function effectively for them to succeed.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo explained that the visit was in furtherance of the synergy and cordial relationship that has existed between the NEMA and SEMA in the task of emergency control and management in the state.

Mr Odenya used the visit to present Gov Obiano with operational documents of NEMA and other items.

From Kingsley Ezekwelu

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