NEMA to set up disaster management centre

To reduce road accidents on the nation’s high ways especially during the festive period, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has planned to set up a Centre for Disaster and Emergency Management (CDEM).

The centre, according to the agency, would be used for simulation exercise and training of officers on search and rescue efforts and basic disaster management techniques.

The Director General of the NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi disclosed this yesterday during a display by officers of the agency on rescue operation and evacuation skills from a skyscraper in Abuja.

The exercise was aimed at updating the public on the level of preparation in the event of an emergency.

The NEMA boss who expressed worry at the weak capacity of some States emergency management agencies said that the centre would be cost-effective for the training of workers of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and volunteer groups on disaster related issues.

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By Joke Akanmu and Olashile Ladeji, Abuja