Owerri: Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has inaugurated a 135-member Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) aimed at bolstering flood disaster preparedness and response across the state. The committees are composed of five members each from the state’s 27 Local Government Areas.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the inauguration was marked by a two-day training workshop in Owerri, where Uzodimma, represented by Chief Cosmas Iwu, Secretary to the State Government, reiterated his administration’s dedication to emergency disaster management. He highlighted the importance of replicating the emergency management structure at the local government level to proactively address disasters by monitoring environmental indices.
Mr. Wilson Brandon, South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, praised Imo for being the first state in the South-East and South-South regions to establish the LEMC, as outlined by the NEMA Establishment Act. He emphasized the vital role of these committees in mitigating disasters at the local level, encouraging stakeholders to utilize the committees’ presence effectively.
Mr. Ikenna Adikibe, Chairman of Oru West Local Government Area, commended the governor for prioritizing the safety and well-being of the state’s residents. Adikibe noted that the inauguration and training of the LEMCs reflect the governor’s proactive leadership in disaster preparedness and community resilience.
Mr. Odoemenam Onyemaechi, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, explained that the committees aim to decentralize disaster management, ensuring community engagement and coordination with state structures. Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, Head of Operations for NEMA in Imo and Abia, added that the LEMCs would enhance disaster awareness through collaboration with local leaders and facilitate the flow of information to NEMA.
The training will equip committee members with essential tools such as fire blankets, extinguishers, first aid boxes, and reflective jackets. The trainees, including corps members, are expected to disseminate the knowledge gained to grassroots communities. The two-day event is themed ‘Flood warning preparedness and disaster management in Imo State for critical stakeholders and local emergency management committee’.