Executive Secretary, KOSEMA, Hon. Mouktar Atimah Raises The Bar On Disaster Preparedness In Kogi State
By Abubakar Suleman
The Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Hon. Mouktar Atimah has continued to raised the bar on disaster preparedness and mitigation through continous human capacity development.
The concerted effort by KOSEMA is aimed at bolstering inter-agency collaboration and enhance the capacity of grassroots-level human resources. These efforts is aim to improve skills required for effective disaster management.
Some few weeks back, Stakeholders workshop/meeting was organised by the state agency led by the Executive Secretary, Hon. Mouktar Atimah in lokoja, Kogi state, in collaboration with National Emergency management Agency, NEMA, Organizes, one Day Stakeholders workshop with the theme; Geared towards Emergency management, Flood preparedness, Enhancing Disaster Management Strategies in Kogi state”.
The Agency convened a stakeholders meeting onTuesday, 4th June 2024, for the preparedness of key stakeholders; to identify challenges of disaster management, proffers possible solutions to them in the nine flood prone local government areas in the state.
At the occasion, His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State and Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Comrade Joel Salifu Oyibo who represented the Executive Governor of kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo said that the state government had always supported effective collaboration aimed at averting disasters.
He said Kogi state is particularly vulnerable to flooding due to the unique geographical location, saying the treat poses significant risks to lives, property, and overall development, especially in 9 local governments and even the state capital, lokoja.
He therefore called on the stakeholders, government officials, community leaders, and experts to develop comprehensive and proactive strategies to mitigate the risks .
In that workshop, the Executive Secretary, KOSEMA Hon. Mouktar Atimah charged the participants to brace- up and prepare to mitigate possible flood this year as predicted by NIMET in its Seasonal Climate prediction (SCP) released.
He stressed the importance of continuously enhancing the knowledge and skills of disaster managers to ensure sustainable and efficient disaster management in the state.
Furthermore, This collaboration seeks to facilitate coordinated disaster management efforts, aligning with NEMA’s mandates, while simultaneously bolstering the capacities of KOSEMA to effectively manage disasters at the local government levels.
The Executive Secretary expressed his deep appreciation for the collaboration with stakeholders in Kogi state, These collaborations have been instrumental in the success of KOSEMA capacity development initiatives.
According him, “KOSEMA’s commitment to enhancing disaster management capabilities through collaboration stakeholders in the state, will give a proactive approach to safeguarding lives and property in the state. The agency’s dedication to continuous improvement and capacity development is a testament to its mission of effectively responding to and managing disasters at all levels.
As NEMA/KOSEMA continues to strengthen its partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders, Kogi state is better prepared to face and mitigate the challenges posed by disasters, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.
