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Economic Confidential,
November, 2009
NATIONAL
NEMA Graduates Search and Rescue Officers
As
part of the initiative of the Federal Government to forestall
emergency and disaster situation in the country, the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) trained sixty-five officers from
the six geopolitical zones of the federation for high-level skill
and professionalism in a specialized search and rescue training. The
concern of the Agency on the shift in disaster management, Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR), which encapsulates preparedness, mitigation,
response and control as the underlying factor, provided a platform
for the training. It was a rigorous and tasking exercise, which
lasted for sixteen weeks, about four months in the Academy of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) West Africa Regional
Training Centre (RADC) in Jos.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria require
professionalism in search and rescue for efficient and effective
disaster management in the country. He said the training of the new
Search and Rescue professionals was in the interest of the nation.
Jonathan who was represented by Dr. B.A. Ajakaye, the DG National
Oil Detection Spill and Response Agency (NODSRA), stated that the
imperativeness of the training exercise was reiterated as a good and
welcome development that can further repose confidence in the
citizenry in line with safety and security in the face of any
emergency and disaster.
The
Director General of the Agency AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (rtd) stated
at the closing ceremony that since emergency and disaster knows no
frontiers or divides and could happen at any time, it is therefore
expedient that measures are put in place to forestall the
occurrences. He stated that it is not to wait for disaster to happen
but to prepare for it and this why this high-level training was very
imperative. In this bid to ensure that disaster management receives
centre stage attention in the country, the Agency in collaboration
with an Israeli search and rescue and emergency and security
training organisation, CST Global headed by a retired Israeli Army
General Israel Ziv with the Chief Instructor Mr. Amit Vainer who led
in the training. The graduands came from different organisations
such as, NDLEA, FRSC, BASEMA, LASEMA, NSCDC, and the Nigeria-Airforce
to cut across different organisation to be a multimedia group
approach to emergency and disaster whenever it occur.
Audu-Bida was optimistic about the fact the new graduates can beat
their chests that they have become first class rescuers and
qualified members of Emergency Rescue Teams considering kind of
training they have received, which is global in outlook. Stating
that in spite of the terrible terrain and inadequate resources but
with the right attitude, he said the graduands could provide
effective emergency services. However, he urged the graduands to be
focused, cooperative and determined and not to be daunted because
these qualities will put them in good stead and position them for
duty here in the fatherland and beyond.
In
a speech delivered by the Director General NDLEA, Barrister Lanre
Ipinmisho on behalf of the Chairman Chief Executive of the Agency,
he captured the proactive and giant steps taken so far by the
National Emergency Management Agency to ensure a sustainable
emergency and management scheme for the country. He expressed his
enthusiasm at the training programme, which is meant to tackle the
challenges that often lead to more chaos in emergency and disaster
situation. He challenged the graduands to justify resources spent by
the federal government in the training stating to whom much is
given, much is expected.
He pointed that effective and timely decision-making in operational
responsibilities hoisted on the graduands is what will stand them
out of the crowd, as such, they must remain dynamic in thoughts and
actions by virtue of the
training they have received. The totality of this is to ensure the
security of Nigerians. |
