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Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye on Friday disclosed the state government’s plan to review the law establishing the State Emergency Management Agency to accommodate local government emergency management committees.
Afuye said the planned holistic review of the law would ensure the effective management of natural disasters from the grassroots to the state level, preventing widespread destruction of property and loss of lives.
A statement released by the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Victor Ogunje, in Ado Ekiti, stated that Afuye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in her office, Mr Abayomi Opeyemi, spoke in Ado Ekiti while receiving the new Zonal Director of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Said Akinyode, in her office.
She said, “The proposed review is borne out of the government’s interest in enhancing the safety and well-being of people at the grassroots, in alignment with national and international best practices.”
Afuye disclosed that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had approved funds for sensitising Ekiti residents on the need to be wary of actions that could trigger disasters in their communities.
She praised the Federal Government’s swift response to mitigating the plight of natural disaster victims in Ekiti and reaffirmed the Oyebanji administration’s commitment to partnering with relevant agencies to address all forms of disasters in the state.
She said, “We request NEMA’s support in educating people on the importance of prioritising safety by avoiding practices such as dumping refuse in drainages, constructing buildings on waterways, and other careless behaviours that contribute to environmental degradation, ultimately leading to the destruction of lives and property during the rainy and dry seasons due to floods and fire outbreaks.
“Let me also appeal to NEMA to increase its support to the state by providing non-food items to meet the immediate needs of disaster victims, especially those whose homes have been affected by fire, flooding, or windstorms. Food items alone cannot provide the full relief expected from the government.”
Earlier, NEMA Zonal Director Akinyode said the Federal Government had redefined its activities and introduced new structures at both state and zonal levels to enhance the management of natural disasters nationwide.
Akinyode urged the state government to address challenges facing its fire service to improve performance and to establish local government emergency management committees. He noted that incorporating local governments would significantly enhance disaster management efforts at the grassroots.
He also appealed to the Ekiti State myGovernment to provide a warehouse where the Federal Government agency could store relief materials, stating that the lack of storage facilities often hampers their operations.
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