TheCable

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja on Tuesday launched a new emergency response and ambulance bay.

The centre is to boost the agency’s response to disaster and emergencies in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to director-general of the agency, Muhammed Sani Sidi, the new emergency response centre was created to bolster the effectiveness of four other emergency units in the capital city.

“Today’s unveiling of this ambulance bay is clear demonstration of NEMA’s determination to continue to enhance our response time,” he said.

“We want to be efficient and proactive in our response to disasters and emergency across the country.”

Responding to the statement that the centre might be poorly managed, Sidi said: “The construction of the centre is a clear demonstration of the successes we have recorded.

“We have put in place amenities to sustain this project. It is self-sustaining. Arrangements have been made to ensure that this centre is self-sustaining.”

DG of NEMA further said that similar rescue outfits would be established across the country for efficient response to emergencies and disasters. He also said government was “efficiently managing” the plight of internally displaced persons in the northeast.

“The humanitarian situation in the northeast is something that is of great concern to the agency. The three camps in Maiduguri are being managed by the agency in collaboration with other bodies. I can tell you we are on top of the situation,” he added.