Omeiza Ajayi
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency FEMA has pledged its continued collaboration with sister agencies on disaster risk reduction, noting that no fewer than 12 lives were lost to various disasters in 2023.
Giving a breakdown of the lives lost and those saved, the Acting Director General of the agency, Mohammed Ibrahim Sabo, said; “During the year under review, FEMA saved 1793 lives through 24 calls on its 112 emergency toll-free number. 12 lives were however lost.
“A breakdown of the search and rescue activities in 2023 are, 1373 lives rescued from various flood disasters, 4 lives were however lost.
“Building collapse,173 lives saved from 5 calls,6 lives lost.
“Major fire outbreaks; 247 lives saved from 5 calls through the 112 toll-free number. 2 lives lost”.
According to him, major incidents that engaged the attention of FEMA in 2023 centred on flooding, fire outbreaks, building collapse and the provision of relief materials to disaster-affected persons.
Noting that FEMA relies on early warnings issued by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency NiMET and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency NIHSA to enable it to effectively mitigate the impact of flooding in the FCT, Sabo said the agency would intensify its sensitization campaign on safety measures during the rainy and dry seasons.
He said in 2023, the Agency inaugurated emergency Marshalls in the six Area Councils of the FCT to encourage community participation in disaster management.
“Other activities carried out by FEMA in 2023 included sensitization of school children in vulnerable communities on basic needs and safety during emergencies. Dry season campaigns, general crisis response, and management, search and rescue drills, stakeholder meetings and training of emergency marshals and local divers.
“This year FEMA, humanitarian activities impacted about 400 vulnerable residents of the FCT.
“The 4th of July 2023, torrential rainfall in the Yangoji/ Shafi community of Kwali area council displaced over 200 households and destroyed 25 farmlands.
“However on the 26th of July 2023 and at the instance of President Bola Tinubu palliatives including food and non-food items were provided to the 200 affected households.
“Similarly on the 30th of June,2023, FEMA in collaboration with the Turkish Foundation, UFUK Dialogue distributed various food items to 200 vulnerable households to enable them to celebrate Eid el Kabir.
“On the 15th of August 2023, under the National Economic Livelihood Emergency Intervention,(SNELEI), FEMA in collaboration with NEMA and the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, distributed food and non-food items across the 6 area councils of the FCT. The exercise lasted for 3 Weeks. About 8403 beneficiaries in the 6 area councils benefitted from the distribution exercise.
“FEMA on the 24th of September 2023; in collaboration with the NEAR foundation celebrated the International Humanitarian Day with about 300 vulnerable and displaced persons at Wassa community.
“Food items that were distributed to the vulnerable households included 1kg meat, 1kg garri ,1kg rice 4 pkts of spaghetti and clothing materials.
“Going forward, we intend to partner with the National Defense College NDC on the training of our volunteers. We have already communicated to the NDC to this effect and we are awaiting a response from them. The training is to equip our volunteers with basic and professional rescue skills.
“We also intend to organize a blood drive for the military, using our volunteers. The blood drive aims to show support and solidarity for their efforts at keeping the nation safe.
“The spillover of this year’s operation Eagle Eye and dry season campaigns will be carried out in 2024”, Sabo added.