By Aliyu Gerengi, Gombe
GOMBE– The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (GOSEMA) has continued its statewide capacity-building programme for members of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), with participants from Akko and Yamaltu Deba Local Government Areas undergoing a one day training on disaster preparedness and emergency response.
The training, organised under the leadership of the Executive Secretary of GOSEMA, Honourobul Abdullahi Haruna Abdullahi (Bacoza), forms part of a comprehensive programme designed to strengthen emergency management structures across all eleven local government areas of Gombe State.
The exercise has conducted in three phases to cover participants from Gombe North, Gombe Central and Gombe South Senatorial Districts.
Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for providing an enabling environment that has enhanced the operations and effectiveness of GOSEMA in the state.
Honourobul Haruna (Bacoza) explained that every local government in Nigeria has established a Local Emergency Management Committee, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the local government, to coordinate disaster preparedness and response at the grassroots level.
He urged participants to replicate the knowledge and skills acquired during the training by stepping them down to members of their respective communities, noting that this would strengthen disaster preparedness, improve emergency response and promote resilient communities across the state.
The Executive Secretary also encouraged participants to apply the lessons learned from facilitators drawn from GOSEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Gombe State Fire Service and the Nigerian Red Cross Society in addressing disaster related challenges within their localities.
The training featured technical presentations by emergency management experts to include Engineer Dahiru Usman presented a paper on Community Based Early Warning System Mechanisms, while Mr. Aliyu Abagah of NEMA delivered a presentation on Hazard Mapping as a Key Disaster Risk Management Tool.
Other presentations included Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning by Malam Ibrahim Nalado of GOSEMA, Community Based Fire Risk Reduction and Safety Practices by Malam Idris Musa Kwami Director Gombe State Fire Service, and Introduction to First Aid and Emergency Care by Murtala Aliyu of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The facilitators highlighted the importance of hazard mapping, disaster preparedness, timely emergency response, fire safety awareness, first aid knowledge and active community participation in reducing disaster risks.
They also commended the roles of traditional and community leaders, as well as non-governmental organisations, in supporting community-based disaster management.
The training concluded with interactive sessions during which participants shared experiences, raised questions and discussed disaster management challenges affecting their respective local government areas.
