We’ll continue to partner NEMA to mitigate against disasters in Ondo — Aiyedatiwa

The Ondo State Government has assured that it will continue to strengthen its partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mitigate against disasters and emplace an efficient emergency management system.

Addressing officials of the South-west Zonal Directorate of NEMA in Akure on Friday, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed his administration’s resolve to contain all forms of disaster through advocacy and capacity building of personnel.

Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, however, urged NEMA to continue to support the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (ODSEMA) in its bid to fully deliver on its core mandates.

He said, “You have been collaborating with the state government for long and I want to urge you to continue in that regard to deepen our relationship at strengthening the agency of government saddled with the management of emergency issues in the state”

The governor said the integration of Local Emergency Management Committees at council areas into the state emergency work plan was for effective coordination and mobilisation.

“We have already inaugurated the Local Emergency Management Committees. All we need to do now is to train them for efficiency because they would be the  closest to the grassroots”

Earlier, Southwest Zonal Director of NEMA, Saheed Akiode, thanked Governor Aiyedatiwa for supporting ODSEMA in addressing disaster incidences across the state.

He said there is a change of structure in the line of reporting disaster-related issues to allow the Zonal Directorates of NEMA to take some actions before the National Headquarters will be on the ground.

Akiode revealed that the new arrangement will involve the zonal directorate, state coordinating offices of NEMA, SEMA and other critical stakeholders who would work hand in glove to minimize the impact of disaster in the state.