Nigeria’s current humanitarian crises, a major challenge to NEMA – DG

Mr Muhammad Sani-Sidi, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), says the major challenge of the agency is how to respond to the current humanitarian crises and criminal activities in the Northeast.

Mr Sani Datti, Head of Media and Public Relations of NEMA said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Sani-Sidi said this at the annual retreat organised for members of the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness in Jos, Plateau.

According to him, just like 2015, 2016 has been very challenging and the agency has been occupied, responding to the issues in Northeast and Northwest, particularly Zamfara.

Sanni-Sidi said that the Nigerian displacement situation was unique around the world, as only about 10 per cent of the displaced persons were living in official camps.

He said that majority of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were being hosted by relatives and host communities.

“Insurgency is new to us as a people and as a country and managing its consequence will certainly be new to us, but we are learning.

“I want to assure you that as an agency and a country, we are learning fast.

“I know that there is no way an agency can perform effectively and efficiently without the support and collaboration of the distinguished honourable members.

“Therefore, this is a platform that enables us to enlighten you, create awareness, mention some of the challenges that we face and some of the good advice we can get from you.”

However, in a remark, the Chairman of the committee, who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr Ali Isa applauded NEMA for its efficiency in responding to the humanitarian crises.

He said that the retreat which was an annual event created a platform where members were briefed by NEMA zonal coordinators and heads of operations offices on disaster and challenges around the country.

The vice chairman expressed members’ strong belief in the agency as it had used the resources provided judiciously and had been effective in handling most of the emergency cases.

According to him, the House Committee will look at the Act of the agency with a view to enhancing and improving the functions of the agency.

The retreat is an annual event organised by the agency to enlighten the committee members on the activities of the agency and challenges being faced in the year under review.