SIRIKA INAUGURATES COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE IMPACT OF SEASONAL RAINFALL PREDICTION ON THE NATION'S FOOD SECURITY

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has inaugurated inter-ministerial committee, charged with the responsibility to review from 2015-2018 the impact of seasonal rainfall prediction (SRP) of the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) on the nation's food security.

According to the minister, the prediction which is very scientific and exact, are extremely important and beneficial to what we do, like how to plan cities and build in such a way that stands the weather condition, but the most important one is our ability to feed our self by knowing when to plant and harvest the type of crops at what particulars season.

He said it is in recognition of the importance of the annual rainfall predictions that the Agency is being empowered and positioned for more accuracy. "We are acquiring capability through NIMET to cascade and drop it down within meters and inches of accuracy, noting that in 2017 some farmers in Sokoto came to testify that from the prediction and the advice they have gotten that they were able to make good harvest for the season and unfortunately other who didn't follow the advice had losses". 

The committee’s Terms of Reference include:

a)     Examining the level of awareness of stakeholders (especially farmers) of the SRP;

b)     Compare and contrast the agricultural production and SRP within the period of 2015-2018;

c)     Examining the consumption vis a vis production of agricultural products on the nation's economy within the period. Relating issues on SRP and food security

d)     Other assignments given by the Minister on the subject matter. 

He urged the committee members to take the job very seriously as national assignment and do it with all the necessary due diligence as well as finish on time, considering its likely effect on the nation’s food sufficiency capacities.

Chairman of the committee and Director Planning Research and Statistics Mohammed Shehu pledged that the members will work assiduously and deliver as expected. He thanked the minister for the opportunity to serve for the committee whose assignment, according to him touches the life of the average Nigerian.

Sani Datti

For: Director, Public Affairs

EFCC, NEMA adjudged to have best spokespersons

EFCC, NEMA adjudged to have best spokespersons

With the highest number of five mentions under the category of best government spokespersons, the EFCC was the respondents’ top choice. All five journalists mentioned Tony Orilade, former Acting Head of media, by name and one included Ayo Oyewole, the Lagos office’s Head of Public Affairs.

Orilade was appointed as the commission’s Acting Head of Media and Publicity in November 2018 and handed over back to Wilson Uwujaren, his predecessor, in August.

Coming second place is the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Sanni Datti, the agency’s Head of Press and Media, was mentioned twice, and Manzo Ezekiel, a press officer, was mentioned once.

Three spokespersons of the Nigeria Police were likewise commended: Frank Mba, PPRO; Chike Oti, former PPRO of the Lagos State Command; and Anjuguri Manza, FCT police command PRO.

Mentioned by two respondents each were Sunday James of the NIS and the Ministry of Works. While one journalist generally commended the “Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing”, another praised David Henry, a senior information officer at the Works Ministry. Read the full report here Nigeria Police, Army, NAFDAC have worst govt spokespersons, media poll shows 

NEMA DISTRIBUTES AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TO VICTIMS OF 2018 FLOOD

NEMA DISTRIBUTES AGRICULTURAL INPUTS TO VICTIMS OF 2018 FLOOD

... Advises farmers not to sale the inputs.

In an effort to assist farmers affected by the flood of 2018 in the country, the National Emergency Management Agency has commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs to 73, 000 affected farmers in 19 local government areas of Jigawa State that have been enumerated to benefit from intervention.

Saad Bello, the NEMA distribution team leader in the state said as one of worst affected state, since the flagged off of the distribution in Ringim centre last week, more than 1200 out of the farmers have so far received the inputs and the exercise was still ongoing. He added that the distribution will also take place at various centres simultaneously in the state. He advised the farmers not to sale the agricultural inputs as the inputs were meant to assist them in improving their farming.

A beneficiary of the farm inputs in Ringim, Inusa Magaji, thanked NEMA and the Federal  Government for the intervention and said it will go a long way in helping to boost their farm production.

Another beneficiary Garzali Sani said he really appreciated Federal Government for the assistance as some of the items given to him, he couldn't ordinarily afford to buy them in market.

The agricultural inputs which include seedlings of rice, Sorghum, millet, maize and sesame. Others include fertilizers, sprayers and agrochemicals are being distributed under Emergency Agricultural Intervention by the Federal Government.

Sani Datti
Head Media and Public relations
10th July 2019

NEMA sympathizes with IDPs affected by fire incidence at Monguno IDPs camp

Press Release

NEMA sympathizes with IDPs affected by fire incidence at Monguno IDPs camp

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirms the sad incidence of fire outbreak on Thursday at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Monguno, Borno State which is located about 137 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The fire which, occurred in the camp that is located inside the local stadium in Monguno town, affected about 7,839 persons with a total of 3 lives lost.  The fire occurred at noon from one of the makeshift shelter where a woman was cooking and spread across the camp, destroying about 402 re-enforced/transitional shelters and 933 makeshift homes burnt.

The Director-General of NEMA Engr Mustapha Maihaja, on behalf of the Federal Government, sympathizes with the government and people of Borno State and the IDPs in particular over the incidence. He also assured that the agency is already working with other stakeholders to provide immediate relief assistance to the affected persons.

Sani Datti
Head Media and Public relations
8th February 2019

NEMA MOVES TO CHECK ANNUAL FLOODING

NEMA MOVES TO CHECK ANNUAL FLOODING

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced a move to prevent the continued reoccurrence of flood in the country through early preparedness, mitigation and flood prevention mechanism. 

The Director-General of NEMA Engr. Mustapha Maihaja stated this in Abuja at an interactive session with the stakeholders to map out a plan of action ahead of the rain season.

Engr. Maihaja said “in the need to address future flood in the country, the agency in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Environment made a joint presentation to the National Economic Council on the 19thof July last year, the council noted and considered the need to set in motion plans and procedures to prevent or mitigate future floods”.

He said "consequently, the council agreed that a Federal coordinating unit is set up to identify locations for critical actions as immediate do-able measures executable within a short period of time. He said on identified project, the cost is to be shared thus; Federal Government -30%, State Government -30% and Presidential committee of Flood Relief and Rehabilitation - 40%, as well as supervising the project jointly."

He explained, “annually, devastating floods of remarkable magnitude result in property damage and loss of lives”. As about 20% of the population are at risk from one flooding or another. 

Engr. Maihaja noted that some of the factors responsible for annual flooding includes; siltation of stream, human manipulation of existing drainage barrier, underdevelopment drainages, excessive rainfall, tree felling, urban planning problems and weakening dams.

Sani Datti
Media and Public relations
16 January 2019