The growing frequency and intensity of pandemics, natural catastrophes, and other emergencies in Nigeria has drawn the immediate interest of the House of Representatives.
The House on Wednesday demanded that the National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, greatly increase its ability to handle those problems, acknowledging the agency’s vital role in disaster response.
The House states that in order to facilitate quick deployment to disaster-prone areas, the facilities will be placed in strategic locations throughout the nation.
Under the direction of Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, this project seeks to improve Nigeria’s emergency preparedness in order to ultimately save lives and lessen the effects of natural catastrophes.
Wase stated that the agency presently uses a small fleet, consisting of just one air ambulance and one Bell 429 helicopter that was purchased in 2014, and that recent incidents have shown serious gaps in NEMA’s emergency response capabilities, particularly in search and rescue operations and medical evacuations.
According to the congressman, Nigeria’s large and varied geography cannot be adequately covered by this small fleet, making many areas—especially the rural and inaccessible ones—vulnerable during emergencies.
Wase is especially concerned about the increased frequency of both man-made and natural calamities, including industrial accidents, earthquakes, and floods.
He claimed that as a result of these occurrences, there has been an increase in the need for quick action and medical evacuation, further taxing NEMA’s meager resources.
He said that the situation has worsened and that NEMA’s capacity to respond to emergencies has been jeopardized by the recent transfer of its air ambulance and helicopter to the Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Police.
The House expressed in a resolution that the Federal Government should give priority to funding the purchase of more air ambulances and helicopters that are outfitted with cutting-edge medical facilities and search and rescue capabilities. The House noted that these assets are crucial for prompt deployment to disaster-affected areas.
In order to allow NEMA to spend in employee training and make sure that first responders are equipped to handle and maintain the new machinery, the House also demanded an increase in the agency’s budget.
In order to ensure that NEMA has sufficient funds in the 2025 budget, the House directed the Committees on Appropriations and Disaster Preparedness to collaborate closely with the Budget Office of the Federation.