LAGOS – Alhaji Iyiola Akande, the South-West Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Thursday urged improved coordination among the three tiers of government in disaster management.
Akande made the appeal at a day workshop on “Multi-Agency Coordination, Casualty Handling and Mass Sheltering During Emergencies in Lagos.
The workshop was organised by NEMA.
“There are still gaps in this respect leading to duplication of efforts, inefficient use of resources, thereby promoting individualism and unnecessary competition at times of response.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need to bridge this gap among stakeholders, especially now that the country is faced with increased human induce-hazards, “the coordinator said.
Akande urged all stakeholders in disaster management to take steps that would reduce duplication of responsibilities and minimise gaps in service delivery.
The coordinator said that disaster management was the coordination of all activities necessary to build, sustain and improve the capability to mitigate threat of natural or human-induced disaster.
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“Disaster management is a multi-jurisdictional, multi-sectoral, multi-resources; hence, the need for stakeholders at various levels of government and the private sector to complement each other in achieving a shared goal.
“NEMA has evolved a series of activities and programmes in bringing together its stakeholders as a step in strengthening our civic responsibilities of saving lives and property during emergencies and disasters,” he said.
Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said that the workshop was an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences in disaster management.
Oke-Osanyintolu, who was represented by the agency’s Head of Operations, Mr Femi Giwa, said that the workshop also provided the opportunity to strategise and identify areas where each unit was lacking.
“This platform will help us to plan and improve roles and responsibilities of coordinators at both state and national levels in any emergency handling,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Elechi Collins, the Public Relations Officer, Federal Fire Service, Lagos Command, said that the workshop was strategic due to the high level of destructions often witnessed.
Elechi said that there was the need for stakeholders to urgently address issues on man-made and natural disasters in our environment. (NAN)
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