FCTA To Reposition The FCT Emergency Management Department

By: Nkechi Isa

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will reposition the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), for effective disaster and emergency management.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr. Felix Obuah, dropped this hint during a familiarization visit to the Department in Abuja, Thursday.

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department is one of the Departments under the purview of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC).

He assured FEMD of better days ahead in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu.

His words: “Everybody is in high spirit, because President Tinubu is here for everybody, every agency, and every department.”

“I promise to take all FEMD’s concerns and challenges to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is changing the narrative of governance in Abuja. I will also ensure full implementation of the department’s budget, to reposition it for improved service delivery and effective response to emergencies,” he stressed.

The Coordinator said that the visit was part of his tour of all Departments and Agencies coordinated by AMMC.

He added that the goal was to know the staff, their concerns, and the challenges affecting the smooth operations of the Agency.

This, according to him, is to ensure teamwork, towards achieving the mandate of the Department in reducing disaster risks and effectively responding to emergencies.

“Part of your work is risk, and most of the workers need hazard allowance and other entitlements that are not being paid. I am interested in what I will do to add value and ensure that FEMD works efficiently and effectively,” the Coordinator reiterated.

“I want us to work as a family; I want us to work as a team. Bring your good ideas to bear. Let us put our ideas on the table to see how we can move forward,” he said.

Earlier, FEMD AG. Director-General, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Sabo, said that the Department has a well-coordinated, reliable, and dependable structure and system in place for timely response to emergencies.

Sabo added that to ensure an effective response to emergencies in communities, the department has established 600 Community Vanguards and about 1000 Disaster Management Volunteers.

He also said that the Agency equally trained 300 Local Divers across the six Area Councils of the FCT, as well as Disaster Marshals, made up of different stakeholders.

“We equally established Local Emergency Management Committees in the Area Councils for timely response to emergencies in communities,” he said.

The Director-General, however, said that despite the achievements recorded so far, the Department was faced with a myriad of challenges affecting its smooth operations.

He identified some of the challenges to include office space, inadequate number of operational vehicles, and other essential equipment, including personal protective equipment.

Sabo expressed the need for the establishment of Area Offices across the six Area Councils for effective and quality service delivery.

He also urged the Coordinator to assist in establishing Ambulance Points around the city to enhance response time.