The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar was at the Nigerian Police Headquarters in Abuja today and held discussion with the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun towards strengthening partnership between NEMA and the Nigerian Police.

In her remarks, the DG NEMA said experience has indicated that disaster sites are potential crime scenes, “and the police has consistently provided NEMA with security and safety cordon to enable life saving search and rescue operations wherever the need arises “.

She appreciated the Nigerian Police for being NEMA’s reliable partner in disaster management and said with the forecast of likely flood this year, which may affect many communities, “I call on the Nigerian Police to continue this partnership by fully activating it’s emergency response teams to work with NEMA in saving lives and livelihoods as well as restoration of normalcy in the event of floods and associated secondary disasters”.

Responding, the Inspector General of Police Dr Egbetokun appreciated DG NEMA for the visit and assured that the Nigerian Police will sustain the existing partnership with NEMA.

The DG NEMA was accompanied on the visit by the Director Planning, Research and Forecasting Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore Kennedy R. Matalowu, Ag Director Relief and Rehabilitation Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Usur, Special Assistant to the DG Mr Idris Abubakar Mohammed, Technical Assistant to the DG Hajiya Rakiya Bello Umar and Head of Airwing Capt Ibrahim Mamman amongst others.

The Inspector General of Police was joined by senior officers of the Force in receiving the DG NEMA and her team. Among the senior officers were Deputy Inspector General Frank Mba, DIG Bala Ciroma and others.