NEMA spends N150m on Imo, Abia disasters

Trains 487 corps members on control

As part of measures to tackle disaster problems in Imo and Abia States, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said it has spent over N150 million worth of relief materials in three months on over 5000 disaster victims.

This was disclosed in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Tuesday, by the Coordinator of Imo/Abia operations office, Evans Ugoh, while briefing journalists on the activities of his office, in disaster management.

The coordinator also said the agency has retrained 487 corps members as Emergency Management Vanguards (EMV), on sensitisation and disaster risk reduction.

He said preparations were on to inaugurate another group of EMVs in the Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Councils areas of the state, which he said are the most venerable areas to flood disaster.

According to Ugoh, the aim of the training was to help in propagating the agency campaign to the grassroots level, noting that the campaign would also alert the people on early warning measures in the prevention of disaster.

He appealed to the people to report any unusual rise in the sea level to the agency, assuring them of the agency’s readiness to attend to victims.

Ugoh disclosed that between January and March this year, the Owerri operations offices, in collaboration with other stakeholders, intervenen in various tragic occurrences, including the fire outbreak at a hotel, Nekede market and petrol station.

In the same vein, he said NEMA made quick response to the fatal road accident in Aba, involving FRSC, and the flood disaster in Ohafia, Aba South, Obowo and Ihite/Uboma Local Council areas in Imo State.