Japan Donates Disaster Risk Reduction Equipment To Nigerian Govt

Blessing Bature-Akpakpan, Abuja


The Japanese government has yesterday donated Disaster Risk Reduction specialized equipment and vehicles for search and rescue of persons in distress from the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA.

Receiving the equipment, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq said the equipment presented to the ministry included Nine units of Rescue vehicles with rescue equipment and four units of mobile water purifier systems with vehicles.

The Minister, in a statement by SA Media Nneka Ikem Anibeze appreciated the Japanese Government for the show of solidarity and promised to effectively utilize the equipments in the areas disaster management to save lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.

Farouq however congratulated the Director General of NEMA AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed (Rtd) for a successful one year in office as well as the timely report from NEMA , which she said was in line with the extant laws that require NEMA to publicly present their Annual Report in the first quarter of every succeeding year.

The induction took place on Monday at the Nigerian Army Resource Center Abuja during the presentation of the 2020 Annual Report of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“I will like to acknowledge and commend NEMA for having the 2020 Annual Report ready on time which serves as a clear commitment of the leadership to the principles of transparency and accountability.

“Interestingly, the Director General/CEO has just completed a full year in office. The presentation of this report today is by no means a coincidence but apparently showcases your dedication and optimal service in the Agency so far”.

The minister also admonished the Director General to reflect on the content of the report and forge ahead to exceed the successes recorded, adding that as we all align our duties to support the policy drive of the President in alleviating the plight of our vulnerable citizens and ultimately reduce poverty to the barest minimum, especially at the grassroots level, I admonish you to reflect on the content of the report to exceed the successes recorded.

“We are all aware of the effects of many disasters faced last year, including those related to insurgency, floods, banditry, communal disturbances, windstorms and ENDSARS violence, but most especially that of the Corona Virus Pandemic (COVID-19). These were some of the major focus of NEMA’s activities in the year under review.

The Japanese government represented by the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr. Shinozawa Takayuki, said that the decision to strengthen disaster risk reduction worldwide was taken at the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan in March 2015.

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