By Lizzy Okoji
Abuja – Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has pledged to set a new pace in disaster management.
Maihaja made the pledge on assumption of duty at the agency in Abuja on Friday.
He said that under his management, the agency would set an agenda geared towards maintaining a state of preparedness and disaster management across the country.
Maihaja explained that the success of this agenda would guarantee Nigeria’s position as a pace setter in disaster management in Africa.
He said the agency’s immediate action would be the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), across the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to mitigate the scourge if meningitis.
“I am taking over at a time the country is faced with major emergency involving IDPs in various parts of the country and meningitis ravaging some states.
“As someone from the North-East, who has been directly affected by the deplorable condition of the IDPs in the region, I am familiar with the crises and the need for urgent lasting solution to rehabilitating them.
“Within a few days, I shall role out an agenda for the activities of NEMA with immediate action to rehabilitating the IDPS and to ensure maximum success in eradicating the scourge of meningitis in the country.
“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for this opportunity to serve our great country at this time’’, Maihaja said.
The DG said under his leadership, the agency would leverage on globally accepted framework by domesticating them to go beyond disaster management to disaster prevention.
Maihaja solicited the cooperation and support of staff and stakeholders to increase the momentum of disaster management.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Maihaja, a graduate of Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, hails from Yobe State.