By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called for stronger collaboration and proactive measures among disaster management stakeholders to improve emergency preparedness, mitigation and response in Oyo State.
The Head of Operations, NEMA South-West Zonal Office, Ibadan, Kadiri Olanrewaju, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement on disaster preparedness and response held in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Olanrewaju said the meeting became necessary following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency of possible heavy rainfall in parts of the state, as well as recent fire outbreaks and accidents recorded in the area.
According to him, the engagement was organised to assess the level of preparedness among key disaster management stakeholders and discuss practical solutions to emergency situations in Oyo State and neighbouring areas.
He explained that the forum also provided an opportunity to review the equipment capacity of relevant agencies and examine mitigation strategies for disaster response.
Olanrewaju urged stakeholders to develop workable action plans and intensify public sensitisation and awareness campaigns to reduce disaster risks.
“Disaster management is everybody’s responsibility, and all stakeholders must work together to address emergency situations effectively,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NEMA, Umar Zubaida, represented by the South-West Zonal Director, Akiode Saheed, stressed the importance of information sharing, early warning systems and coordinated response efforts among agencies.
He also called for regular data reviews and stronger inter-agency cooperation to improve disaster management operations.
Participants at the meeting described the engagement as timely and commended NEMA for bringing stakeholders together to strengthen disaster preparedness in the state.
Representatives from the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Oyo State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, National Orientation Agency, ministries and media organisations attended the event.