(http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/images/Director%20General%20of%20NEMA%20Muhammad%20Sani%20Sidi.jpg)
The European Union has offered to provide technical assistance to enable early recovery for communities that were ravaged by the recent flood disasters in the country.
During a visit by a team of experts from the European Union to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, the team leader Kimmo Tuominen said the assistance would be based on analysis of specific aspects of the emergency management structures and some procedures which would be assessed by them. Kimmo Tuominen noted that the team would also identify lessons learnt from the previous floods, assess the impact and map out hydro-geological risks and related industrial hazards; adding that the EU is interested in the emergency planning and procedures including coordination and communication between diverse regional stakeholders. He said that the European Union will further assist in the areas of flood information management, particularly forecasting and alert procedures as well as early warning systems. In his response, the Director - General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi expressed appreciation for the support from the European Union; noting that it will boost the efforts of government towards assisting the affected communities. He appealed for sustenance of the support. Sani Sidi said Nigeria is now better prepared to tackle disaster, including this year's predicted flood. He urged the team to identify some of the gaps that have not been adequately addressed. "The team will visit some of the communities in Kogi and Benue States where they will also meet with state authorities," he said.
Federal Republic Of Nigeria | nigeria.gov.ng
Flood management should be taken to the next level in this country. It really has to improve!