By Leonard Okachie
The Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Friday constituted the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC) at the 17 Local Government Areas for disaster preparedness and response.
In a speech at the event and training of the LEMC members in Umuahia, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Sunday Jackson, said that the incidence of disasters in Abia had increased in frequency and intensity.
Jackson said that emergency management had become an important issue that needed adequate preparedness at the LGA level for effective response.
According to him, Abia is now a disaster prone state due to climate change and high rainfall, especially during the rainy season.
He said that SEMA was working assiduously towards the LEMC inauguration, adding that members would be equipped with the necessary materials to carry out their jobs.
The SEMA boss said that the initiative, being in alignment with the National Emergency Management Agency, aimed at enhancing community resilience and reduction of flooding risks in flood-prone areas.
He commended Gov. Alex Otti for being supportive and serious on issues pertaining to disaster curtailment activities in the state.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, charged the committee members to take the assignment seriously, while assuring them of government support.
“We are working towards making sure that there is prompt and effective response to disaster when it occurs, but we can’t achieve this if we don’t have a functional and sustainable LEMC on ground,” he said.
In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, commended SEMA for the initiative, stressing that LEMC serves as the first responders at the grassroots.
Ogbonna, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Ikechukwu Oriuwa, said that building local structures that are proactive, responsive and well-coordinated is not just necessary but urgent.
“The Ministry of Environment assures you of our full partnership in this journey.
“Disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and environmental protection are interconnected, and together, we must build a safer and more sustainable Abia,” he said.
In a remark, the Mayor (Chairman) of Aba North LGA, Mr Timothy Iheke, lauded the organisers, saying that the strategic meeting and engagement came at the nick of the time.
Iheke said that his administration had taken several measures to mitigate the impact of flooding in Aba North, being one of the flood-prone LGAs in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by some critical stakeholders, including representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Red Cross Society of Nigeria. (NAN)
