The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has deployed Search and Rescue officers across the country with a view to providing the much-desired support in the coordination of rescue operations with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and other stakeholders at recently flooded areas and communities.

Confirming the development, NEMA’s Head of Press, Manzo Ezekiel, in a statement made available to Tribune Online, reiterated the Agency’s resolve towards activation of operational offices across the country and support Subnational Governments’ efforts as well as conduct assessment.

He said: “In furtherance of its proactive flood risk management, the Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar has activated all Zonal, Territorial and Operation offices of the Agency nationwide to work with the States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) within their area of responsibilities to carry out rescue operations and conduct assessment of the situation. 

“The NEMA Zonal, Territorial and Operation offices are located in Lagos, Ibadan, Ekiti, Abuja, Minna, Jos, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Edo, Uyo, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Yola and Gombe.

“At the headquarters NEMA also operates a toll-free emergency contact line: 0800CALLNEMA (080022556362) in addition to all its social media platforms through which feedback from members of the public can be received nationwide. 

“Consequently, NEMA Search and Rescue officers have been deployed across the states and providing the much desired support in coordination of rescue operations with SEMAs and other stakeholders at recently flooded areas and communities.

“The Agency is also conducting rapid assessment to determine any further assistance that may be required in the impacted communities.

“The rescue efforts by NEMA is in addition to the ongoing sensitization and awareness activities being carried out to alert the public of the predicted flood for necessary actions to be taken to avert negative impacts.”

He confirmed that the NEMA’s accounting officer had on Wednesday 3rd July, 2024 embarked on flood advocacy in Anambra State where she discussed with the Governor, represented bt his Deputy; religious and community leaders on measures to avert and mitigate against flood in the state which often record severe flooding annually.

She has also previously visited several States and stakeholders across the country on the same mission with plans to continue with the advocacy. 

According to him: “As part of its pre-rainy season flood prevention advocacy, the Agency engaged the media in the placement of flood sensitization jingles, held emergency coordination forum with critical stakeholders to prepare them for the predicted disaster. 

“The Agency, had soon after the flood prediction written all State Governments with the list of Local Governments that are at risk and outlined actions required to be taken also to avert or mitigate against the disaster.

“A number of states that heeded the advisory from NEMA have acknowledged their early actions matched with the warnings and NEMA responses that have made lots of differences. 

“NEMA wishes to reemphasize the flood warning while calling on all stakeholders including State and Local Government to be prepared with the intensifying of the rain season.”