The Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa has said that Nigerian military would leverage on the emergency capacity of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to check disasters in future.
The CDS made the disclosure today when he received the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), Hajia Zubaida Umar on a courtesy call to the Defence Headquarters Abuja.
Her visit was based on the report she received on assuming office as regards the impressive support extended to NEMA.
General Musa who received the DG and her entourage in his office, congratulated her for a well deserved appointment, noting that the Armed Forces of Nigeria ( AFN) will leverage on NEMA rescue plan to avert future unfortunate disasters.
He reiterated the AFN continuous support to the Agency, while saying NEMA is doing a lot to make things better. He added that the Agency is also touching lives through their activities.
Hajia Zubaida who could not hide her deep impression for the AFN support said “collaboration has become crucial as we strive to meet up to the NEMA mandate on disaster management and building of resilience in Nigeria in the face of armed conflicts, coupled with growing disaster incidents driven by climate change and intensive competition over dwindling land and water resources “.
NEMA she added, recognises the vital role the AFN plays through the Disaster Response Units (DRUs). She further maintained that Armed Forces activities towards her agency saves lives and restore normalcy.
The DG seized the opportunity to applaud the AFN provisions of security, airlift of relief items and evacuation which she said exemplify the critical support military is providing as assistance to Civil Authorities. She added that NEMA consistently support capacity building for AFN personnel on disaster management and actively sponsors joint simulation exercise for various anticipated disaster and emergency scenario using military facilities. Speaking further, she said ” apart from equipment support to partners, NEMA has provided operational equipment to the military over the years. She also update the CDS on NEMA ongoing flood disaster preparedness and mitigation drive as the rainy season sets in. She finally called on the CDS to direct the Military DRUs to heighten preparedness efforts to mitigate impact of potential floods.