US GOVERNMENT TO OFFER TRAINING ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT

With the global increase in disaster occurrences, the Government of the United States of America through its Department of State Diplomatic Security Service has offered to assist Nigeria in the training of its disaster and crisis managers to promote the protection of lives and property in the country.

Programme Manager in the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance of the USA Diploma Security Service Mr. Anthony Gonzalez disclosed this in Abuja when a team from the Department visited the headquarters of the National Emergency Management Agency. He said the offer was intended to complement the progress made by the National Emergency Management Agency to boost disaster management in Nigeria.

He also said the increasing complexity of disasters require that disaster managers must be properly trained and positioned to efficiently and effectively manage such situations to minimize losses.

Responding, the Director General Muhammad Sani Sidi said the Agency has made bold attempts in taking disaster risk reduction to the grassroots through its grassroots and executive volunteer training scheme. He added that the Agency with stakeholders have developed a contingency plan to guide and response to sudden onset emergency in the country.

He stated further that the Agency has also acquired vital assets, including search and rescue equipment, advanced life support ambulances, helicopter and air ambulance.

Sani Sidi noted that the country is currently facing the challenges of terrorism in the North Eastern States (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa), with an extension of global terrorism, thus necessitated international cooperation. He appreciated the kind support and cooperation extended towards the Agency by the government of the United State.

He said the Agency over the years has been enjoying a good working relationship with the US embassy in Nigeria, with the latter assisting Nigeria in developing National Pandemic Plans and Military assistance to Civil Authority.

Sani Datti
Information Officer,
National Emergency Management Agency