The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have made an official agreement aimed at the mitigation of disaster occurrences before, during and after the rainy seasons.
The common front was arrived at when the Director General (DG) of NEMA, Zubaida Umar visited the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi of the NSCDC at the Corps’ Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the MoU signing, the NSCDC Boss, while assuring the NEMA DG of his unwavering commitment, further emphasized the pivotal mandate of the Corps in Crisis and Disaster Management as one of its statutory duties amongst others.
He noted that the NSCDC is a member of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) whose objective centres on ensuring the protection and assistance of populations and safeguarding property and the environment in the face of natural and man-made disasters.
He explained that in discharging this mandate, the NSCDC has further maintained synergy by complementing the efforts of NEMA through disaster alert, providing security and maintenance of law and order during the distribution of relief materials to Internally displaced persons (IDP), as well as providing succour to victims of disaster occurrence or emergencies across the nation.
“In line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two federal government agencies, the NSCDC will continue to give necessary security coverage and support to NEMA officials on duty and beneficiaries of government relief materials.”
On her part, the Director General (DG) of NEMA, Zubaida Umar appreciated the Corps for the long-term collaborations and cooperation which have enhanced the productivity and performance of NEMA in actualizing her roles and responsibilities to the nation.
Umar explained that the visit was part of her broad consultations with reputable stakeholders and partners to enhance service delivery.
“Nigeria’s disaster profile and attendant humanitarian outlook call for strengthening and mutual collaborative effort between NEMA and NSCDC.”
DG NEMA further lauded the CG for his consistent support in the management of disasters in the country stressing the need for NSCDC to activate its emergency response teams to work with NEMA to save lives and livelihood as well as restorative normalcy in the event of floods and associated secondary disaster as the rainy season intensifies.
