NEMA Solicits NBA’s Assistance over Agency’s Amendment Bill

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has solicited the cooperation and support of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the ongoing amendment to the agency’s establishment Act to position it for the challenges of providing succour to citizens in distress.

NEMA said the appeal became necessary for effective management of emergency and disasters situations in the country.

The agency in a statement by its Head, Media and Public Relations , Sani Datti, in Abuja disclosed that its Director General, Mr. Mustapha Y. Maihaja, made the call while addressing members of the NBA at its 2018 Annual Conference in Abuja.

According to the statement, Maihaja, hinted that the amendment to the NEMA Act was desirable to ameliorate some identified gaps in the management of disasters in the country.

He requested the NBA to be “in the vanguard of ensuring that NEMA Act, which is currently undergoing reform at the National Assembly is treated expeditiously” and in a manner as to ensure that Agency is made to be more robust, more focused, resilient, proactive and better handled.

“This will enable the Agency confront many challenges it is facing currently,” he said.

Maihaja also expressed his desire that NBA will in due course evolve strategy to actively partner with the agency to ensure adequate protection of human Rights of the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), expose human right abuses, if any, and provide free legal service to IDPs when need arises.

“The federal government through various initiatives has continued to undertake drastic palliative measures aimed at providing necessary succour to victims of disasters in the country,” he added.