The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it would recruit 154,000 grassroots emergency Volunteer Corps across the 774 local governments of the country.
The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Sani Sidi, made this known at the opening of a three-day workshop for the members of the corps in Sokoto North Local Government on Monday.
Sidi said the recruitment became necessary because disasters usually occur at local areas with the locals being early respondents.
“The training of this crop of volunteers will no doubt save lives and reduce the suffering of the victims of disasters in our communities whenever disasters strike,’’ he added.
According to him, the introduction of the corps is also to help in actualising the shift of emphasis to disaster risk reduction.
Sidi, represented by NEMA zonal Operations Manager, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, said this would make the communities to be more resilient to incidences of disasters.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, said that managing emergencies and disasters required the support and active participation of all.
Gada, who was also represented by Alhaji Dahiru Abbas, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, said the state government would empower the agency and others to discharge their duties effectively