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FEMD warns of imminent disaster as residents built on waterways
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), has warned of an imminent flood disaster in Jahi and Gishiri Districts, Abuja, due to building on waterways.
The acting Director- General (D-G) of FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, gave the warning in Abuja on Friday, after a risk assessment exercise in the areas by the department.
Wenegieme said that the assessment has revealed that residents have built houses on waterways and flood plains, while drainages were blocked in Jahi and Gishiri.
This, according to her, can lead to flooding, which she described as a disaster waiting to happen.
Wenegieme said, “Most of the waterways have been obstructed. Residents have built houses on water ways; they have encroached the streams; they have encroached into rivers.
“As you can see, the natural water course has been blocked, even the green areas have been overtaken by illegal buildings.”
She explained that the risk assessment exercise was to enable FEMD to develop strategic mitigating measures against flooding and other disasters and effectively respond to emergencies.
She said that FEMD would write to the Department of Development Control to visit the areas to ensure all developments in the areas were authorised and in conformity with the Abuja Master Plan.
The acting D-G called on FCT residents to desist from building on waterways and sought the cooperation of the residents in the protection of lives and properties following increased volume of rainfall.
In a related development, FEMD has trained 50 staff and volunteers on disaster response in line with global best practices.
Wenegieme said that the simulation training, which began on Thursday, was tagged, “Disaster Response Simulation Exercise.”
She said that the training focused on water safety, water rescue, building collapse, and fire outbreaks.
She said that the simulation exercise was organized to enhance the capacity of the staff and volunteers.
“This simulation exercise and drills are to build our capacity in terms of rescue operations of any kind while paramedics were trained on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”.
“The training exercise is aimed at equipping the staff and volunteers of the department with the needed skills and expertise to help them discharge their duties in line with global best practices,” she said.
She explained that the volunteer local divers were selected from the six area councils of the FCT.
This, she said, would better equip them with modern and improved methods of rescue operations.
“We have local divers from the six Area Councils, as such, we need to polish their swimming skills, teach them the modern way of carrying out rescue operations during flooding,” she said.
Wenegieme thanked the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike and the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud for the unflinching support to FEMD.
The Facilitator, Mr Joe Oduah, Chief Executive Officer, RCL Industrial Safety Centre, said that building the capacity of FEMD staff and volunteers would significantly improve disaster response and save lives and properties.
Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has expressed shock and sadness over the passing away of Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo.
Oyebanji, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described the royal father’s demise as a sad development, given the fact that he did not exhibit any sign of illness during the recent meeting of traditional rulers.
He described the late Oba Adebayo as a loving and dependable traditional ruler, who loved and cared for his people and showed tremendous interest in their welfare as well as the development of Emure-Ekiti.
Oyebanji condoled with the late monarch’s family, the Elemure-in-Council and the people of the town over the exit of the royal father.
He urged them to be consoled by the fact the late oba lived an impactful life of service to the town, the state, Nigeria and humanity in general, for which he would remain unforgettable.
“My condolences and that of the government of Ekiti State to the immediate family of the late Kabiyesi, the Elemure-in-Council and the good people of Emure-Ekiti on the demise of the Elemure, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo.
“The late Oba Adebayo was a great leader of his people, a lover of development and a patriot, who devoted his early life to the service of the country.
“As a police officer, he rose to the position of Commissioner of Police before ascending the throne of his forefathers, where he also made his mark as a traditional ruler, whose reign attracted huge development to his town.
“Our prayer is that the good Lord would grant the dear departed monarch eternal rest and comfort the family and the good people of Emure-Ekiti,” the governor said.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa, says it has commenced investigation to unravel those behind the attack on its headquarters in Lafia.
Mr Jerry Victor, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer in the state said this in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Lafia.
The unspecified number of suspected bandits attacked the NSCDC Lafia office in the early hours of June 17, but were repelled by the personnel of the command.
Victor said that the state commandant of the corps, Ismaila Abdullahi, had directed the Intelligent unit to get to the root of the attack with a view of apprehending the attackers, collaborators and sponsors.
He said that those behind the attack would not escape justice as the command would go after them, no matter their status in the country.
Victor said that preliminary investigation revealed that the bandits wanted to set some of their members at their custody free.
“They came in large numbers with iron rods and attempted to break some part of the command’s fence to gain entry into the facility.
“Our personnel swiftly responded by opening fire on the hoodlums, whose mission was to release some high-profile suspected criminals including informants of kidnappers in our custody,” he said.
Victor said that the command had beefed up surveillance in and around their office to forestall future occurrence.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has praised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo’s contributions to Nigeria’s 71.04 per cent audit rating by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Mr Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of NCAA, made the commendation before journalists on Tuesday in Lagos.
Achimugu said that Nigeria scored 71.04 per cent in the ICAO-conducted Universal Security Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA).
He said that Keyamo (SAN) and the Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, played huge roles during the recently-concluded ICAO’s USAP-CMA in the country’s aviation industry.
He said that Keyamo and Najomo were pivoted to the ICAO’s rating due to their leadership skills and mobilisation of human and material resources to ensure that all gaps were closed.
The NCAA spokesman described as mischievous, comments in some quarters that the minister and Najomo were responsible for alleged poor ratings Nigeria had.
“It is ironic that the writer blames the ‘failure’ of the security audit on the honourable minister (meaning that the minister should have intervened and done whatever was necessary to score higher).
“At the same time, the writer blames the minister for “intervening” in security and safety issues. He needs to decide if he wants the minister to be involved or not,” he said.
Achimugu said that both Keyamo and Najomo came into office months ago and swang into action immediately to improve infrastructure and workers’ remuneration.
“Six months ago, we met a dilapidated industry with poor infrastructure. The security and safety issues did not start in the last six months.
“Had it not been for the tireless efforts of the honourable minister and the D-G, NCAA, what we met on the ground would not have scored 30% in the audit.
“Going by what was on ground when Keyamo and Najomo assumed office, the current score is a substantially good showing, a miracle if I must say.
“The narrative being pushed out is just a part of the larger strategy to push out Keyamo and Najomo from office. It is the handwork of paid mercenaries,” he said.
According to Achimugu, ICAO auditors praised Nigeria’s performance during their final briefing at the NCAA and mentioned that they had complained about an absent infinfrastructure.
According to him, the auditors eventually said that they were pleasantly surprised that the infrastructure was made available the following day.
ICAO had in March conducted the USAP-CMA for the Abuja and Lagos airports.
Elemure of Emure-Ekiti demise sad, shocking – Oyebanji
We`ll not be distracted from our responsibilities – Kano CP
