The National Emergency Management Agency South West Zonal Directorate and the Ado-Ekiti Operations Office led by the Zonal Director, Mr Akiode Saheed attended the inauguration ceremony of Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) in Ondo State.
While welcoming participants to the Occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, *Mr Idowu Ojo* stated that it has become imperative to have LEMCs in all the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State, this he noted will help in Disaster Management within Ondo State as all emergencies are localized.
While delivering a goodwill message, the Director General of NEMA, *Mrs Zubaida Umar* who was represented by the Head of Ado-Ekiti Operations Office, *Dr Kofoworola Soleye* applauded the State Government and SEMA for the great feat towards effective Disaster Management in Ondo State. He noted that Ondo State is one of the few states to have inaugurated LEMC to oversee Disaster Management at the local level. He pledged the continued support of NEMA to Ondo State at all times. He called on the State Government to hasten action on the provision of a befitting Office for NEMA to have an Operations Office in Ondo State.
He charged the LEMC to be focused on preventive and mitigation measures to avert disasters from happening and if they eventually occur, the impact would have been reduced.
The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, *Dr Olayide Adelami Owolabi* during his speech which was delivered by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, *Hon Takuro* noted that the formation and inauguration of Local Emergency Management Committee is in alignment with the agenda of the State Government in ensuring the safety of lives and properties of the residents of Ondo State.
He stated that the State Government through SEMA has undertaken several interventions for victims of various disasters in the State and thus the Government has decided to be proactive rather than been reactive to emergencies and disasters in the State. He stressed that today’s program is another dimension of government responsiveness to the people as it involves inclusion of the Local government into the mainstream of Disaster Management in Ondo State.
He concluded that the formation of LEMC will provide a structure of Disaster Risk Management at the local level by prioritizing Early warning signals, Sensitization and Awareness Campaigns as well responding emergencies before escalating it to the State level through SEMA if it exceeds the coping capacity of the Local Government to handle.
The Zonal Director South West, *Mr Akiode Saheed* delivered a paper titled ‘Enhancing Resilience through Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Data Gathering’
The second paper was presented by the Branch Secretary, Nigeria Red Cross Society, Ondo State Branch *Mr Rasheed Oshonowo* titled ‘ Community Engagement and Accountability.
6th August 2025
