The rescue operation was however suddenly halted when policemen and officials of the National Emergency Management Agency almost engaged themselves in a physical fight
Browsing: National Emergency Management Agency
The Public Relations Officer of NEMA in the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the explosion to the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone
The NEMA coordinator explained that the one-day workshop was aimed at creating awareness and sensitise stakeholders to the ways of mitigating the spread of cerebrum-spinal meningitis, measles, cholera and Lassa fever, especially during the rainy season
They appealed to the Ebonyi Government to come to their rescue and to take urgent steps in dredging the river and removing structures that hindered free flow of water in the area
Parents and teachers were urged to keep watchful eyes on their wards, while motorists were advised to exercise restraints against driving in the rain
He said that running water has tremendous strength, which could remove anything along its path and so it is advisable for individuals to take extra care during the rainy season
In addition to the issues of flood, he said the Agency has also provided various humanitarian assistance to the state over the recent security challenges that occurred, including the incidences in Baga and Bama towns
The ACN said that the way President Jonathan is handling his political disagreement with a member of his party, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, has portrayed him as a leader who is willing to jettison democratic ideals and principles on the altar of personal ambition
President Jonathan also welcomed the plan by the National Human Rights Commission to carry out independent investigations
The Director, Search and Rescue, Air commondore Charles Otebagde, who led the team of rescue and relief officers to Baga town, said the major task for them was to ensure all people who were still in the bush move out to temporary camps established as a team, was on the ground to provide all the necessary assistance to the affected victims
The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had directed the Agency to urgently provide immediate succor to the people
Shuaib, in the article on his blog, which was also published by The Eagle Online, had called the attention of Okonjo-Iweala to public perception of her appointments into key positions in her ministry and parastatals under her as lopsided
The Head of Public Relations of the agency, Yushau A. Shuaib, who made the disclosure at the end of a workshop organized by NEMA, Abuja Operation Office, said the centre would have state of the art media equipment for efficient processing and timely transmission of disaster-related information based on the best practices
Thus, according to Sani-Sidi, Bauchi State has set a good record for the others to emulate in helping distressed people in their localities
Two survivors have been taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital
Sani-Sidi added that the computer-based satellite technology that uses the COSPAS-SARSAT hi-tech system/facility, had helped search and rescue officers to respond timely in saving victims from distress, especially on the high sea where most of the distress alerts came from
The Director General of NEMA, Mohammed Sani Sidi, while declaring the exercise open, said emergency rescue exercise has become necessary now that terrorism is on the rise in Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region.
A member of the House of Representatives representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Olaifa, whose area was affected by the storm and witnessed the delivery of the relief items, commended the timely response of NEMA to the disaster
The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said that the relief intervention was on the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan, who urged urgent delivery of the emergency materials to the affected population in addition to the deployment of a contingent of the Nigeria military to ensure return to normalcy in Mali
Akinjide’s call came as a result of the reported dilatory attitude of the Oyo State Government in distributing the relief materials provided by NEMA to the identified victims already enumerated by the Agency in the five Ibadan Local Government Areas largely affected by the flood