By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it will continue to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency to improve disaster management in the territory.
This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday, by the chief Press Secretary to the minister of FCT, Anthony Ogunleye.
It said the administration will always strengthen the existing relationship with the agency in order to improve emergency preparedness and promote timely response to emergency situations in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
According to the statement, the minister of FCT malam Muhammad Bello gave the indication when the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja at the weekend.
The Minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration is working very hard to improve enforcement of the city’s planning regulations, especially in areas that are prone to flooding and other natural disasters to reduce disaster risks in the FCT.
Bello while underscoring the importance of an effective collaboration between the two agencies of government, also thanked the NEMA DG for the support that the Agency has provided during flooding incidents and occasional disasters in the FCT, including its capacity building and palliative support which he said have also been very helpful .
He pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration for the activities of NEMA in tackling emergency situations, even as he assured that the FCTA will work to ensure the successful hosting of the Agency’s forthcoming National Conference on Disaster Management scheduled to take place in the FCT.
Malam Bello also assured that the FCTA will provide suitable locations in the city centre for the construction of an alternative Emergency Response and Ambulance Bay (ERAB) to replace the one destroyed during some unrests in the past.
In his remarks, the Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, said the Agency, over the years, has nursed the vision of working with the FCT Administration to build robust mutual support and collaboration in confronting the daunting task of disaster risk management in the FCT and across the nation.
