The National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) and disaster response organisations in Bayelsa have pledged to collaborate to tackle the impact of the impending flood.
They made the pledge at a stakeholders strategic coordination meeting on preparedness and response to flood and other emergencies in Bayelsa held on Thursday at the BYSEMA office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.
Addressing the participants. Mr Eric Ebhodaghe, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Port Harcourt Zonal Office noted that collaboration was key to effective disaster management.
He explained that NEMA’s mandate includes coordination of organisations and mobilisation of resources to manage disasters across the federation and urged the stakeholders to collaborate to bring relief to victims of anticipated flood.
Ebhodaghe said the NEMA has a robust disaster management plan which it intends to implement alongside BYSEMA and relevant disaster response organisations operating in Bayelsa.
He explained that NEMA complements the efforts of states and local governments when the magnitude of the disaster overwhelms existing capacities of states and provides technical support and training in disaster management.
On the N3 billion flood intervention fund disbursed to flood-prone states by the federal government, he emphasised that the funds were neither warehoused nor managed by NEMA.
“We are not in control of flood intervention funds, the states get the funds directly from the federal government while NEMA is facing its mandate of coordination and assisting states when the disaster gets out of hand.
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“As we speak the funds for states are with the states and not with NEMA,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, Chief Walaman Igrubia, Director-General, BYSEMA listed the preparedness of the Bayelsa government ahead of the flood season and solicited the support of the participating organisations.
He noted that the topography of the state posed peculiar challenges to disaster response, adding that high grounds are being prepared as temporary shelters and camps for flood victims.
Igrubia, who commended NEMA for the proactive stance ahead of the flood season, appealed for closer ties to deepen the efforts being made by Bayelsa government in flood control.
According to the director-general, the state government is clearing natural water channels, desilting rivers and creeks and constructing dykes to channel excess flood waters.
He maintained that the magnitude of the annual flood seasons were beyond the capacity of BYSEMA and the state government and appealed to the federal government to assist Bayelsa as it grapples with floods.
Representatives of all security agencies, the military, fire service, Red Cross, National Orientation Agency, voluntary organisations amongst others contributed to the meeting.
The meeting resolved to deepen the collaboration and convene further advocacy meetings with officials of Bayelsa government to enlist their support for the disaster response and management plans.
