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Tag: SEMA

  • Kano explosion: What actually happened

    Kano explosion: What actually happened

    It has become very clear that Tuesday’s incident in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State was not a case of a suicide bombing but a case of a gas explosion.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) also clarifies that the explosion did not occur at a school as earlier reported but that the incident happened near an animal feed store opposite the school on Aba Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.

    Recall that in the early hours of Tuesday, there was pandemonium in the Sabon Gari area of Kano. Earlier reports had it that it was a bomb explosion, but official reports have said it is a gas explosion.

    TNG reports the police command in the state had confirmed the killing of four persons following the incident.

    Meanwhile, the Kano State government has in a statement by Mr Muhammed Garba, the State’s Commissioner for Information called on residents to remain calm.

    Garba said that the situation has been brought under control, as security agencies had taken over the area for rescue operations and investigation.

    “The state government will keep the public abreast on any development,” he said.

    Garba cautioned residents against fake news and speculations on the incident.

    He also faulted the claim that the explosion occurred in a school, saying that it happened near an animal feed store opposite the school on Aba Road, Sabon Gari, Kano.

    He said that while the cause of the explosion and the damages were yet to be ascertained, an investigation has commenced.

    He urged residents, especially those living in the area to remain calm, saying that the government was working to restore normalcy in collaboration with relevant security agencies.

    Kano explosion: Death toll rises to 9

    Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that about 9 bodies have been recovered so far from the gas explosion.

    A statement by NEMA’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel revealed that the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed was at the site of the incident and coordinated rescue operations.

    The agency, however, confirmed that it was not a case of a bomb explosion but a case of a gas explosion.

    The statement reads: “9 dead bodies have been recovered so far from the rubbles of a collapsed building beside a primary school following explosions from a gas cylinder at Aba Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano.

    “Director-General National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, was at the site of the incident and coordinated the rescue operations. He mobilised excavators being used for the rescue operations and said NEMA team will ensure complete removal of the rubbles to retrieve all trapped persons.

    “Furthermore, the DG instructed the NEMA rescue team to remain at the site until conclusion of the rescue and to work together with security agencies and other response organisations present at the location.

    “NEMA is presently coordinating the rescue operations involving members, Nigerian Red Cross, military, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Kano SEMA.”

  • NCC upgrades emergency communications centres

    NCC upgrades emergency communications centres

    In continuation with its vision and strategy to ensure promptness, effectiveness and efficiency in the handling of emergency call services through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on the deployment of Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) solution.

    This bolstering of the capacity of emergency response agencies is coming on the heels of the Commission’s recent activation of the Taraba State ECC, thus bringing the total number of operational ECCs across the country to 25.

    The Taraba ECC joins the existing operational ECCs in 23 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These ECCs are located in the FCT, Adamawa, Imo, Enugu, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Plateau, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Ekiti, Cross River and Edo. Others are Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Osun, Zamfara, Kebbi and Gombe States.

    To further modernize the centres, the NCC initiated the deployment of CAD for the response agencies. The Commission has deployed the CAD system to the commands of six response agencies including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), States Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as in Ambulance and Fire Service operations in seven states.

    The seven states that have benefitted from the deployment of the CAD equipment to transform and upgrade their ECCs into an Internet protocol-based facility are Ogun, Cross River, Enugu, Kwara, Kano, Adamawa and FCT. The Commission plans to upgrade the remaining operational ECCs soon.

    On March 9, 2022, the Commission carried out the successful trial calls to test the effective implementation of the supply, installation and integration of the CAD system for Ambulance Service in Abuja, FCT for the recently-launched National Emergency Medical Services & Ambulance Systems (NEMSAS) of the Federal Ministry of Health.

    In a remark on the CAD deployment, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the Commission will continue to modernize the ECCs from time to time to keep it effective and to respond appropriately to the dynamics of emergency cases, in keeping with its objective of enhancing security of lives and property in the country.

    “Over the years, the Centres have been transforming lives and helping many citizens to survive emergencies and other life-threatening circumstances through instant dispatch of emergency calls received to Emergency Response Agencies (ERA). This intervention has had very positive impact on the lives of Nigerians,” Danbatta said.

    The CAD is an automated dispatch software solution deployed for the seamless transmission of calls from the ECC to the relevant ERAs via the click of a button on the Call Agent’s System.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission established the EEC project in 2005 in deference to Federal Executive Council directive. The Commission has also taken the establishment and effective operations of the Centres across the country as a matter of priority in keeping with Sections 107 (3) A and B, of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCA) 2003.

  • Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said on Friday that flood killed 26 people and destroyed over 1,000 houses in four Local Government Areas of the state from April to date.

    The Executive Secretary, Kano SEMA, Dr Saleh Jili, who confirmed the figures in an interview in Kano, said that 50 other persons sustained injuries due to the the flood and windstorm.

    According to him, the affected local government areas are Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni and Doguwa.

    He said that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted that there would be flooding in 25 local government areas of the state this year.

    The SEMA boss said the agency had visited the affected areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of state government and distributed relief materials to them to alleviate their suffering.

    “The items distributed included bags of cement, bags of rice, maize, millet, roofing sheets and toiletries,’’ he said.

    The executive secretary, however, commended Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Muntari Ishaq, for supporting the agency.

    He called on donor agencies and wealthy individuals to assist in supporting the victims.

    “Our economy is down due to COVID-19; the government cannot do it alone,’’ he said.

    Jili also called on those living close to rivers and ponds in the state to vacate the areas for one to two months period.

    “If the rivers and ponds are over filled with water, please vacate your houses,’’ the SEMA boss advised.

    He further urged residents of the state to clear the drains in front of their houses to prevent flooding.

    “I urge those who are not yet affected by the flood to do everything possible to prevent it by clearing their drainages, collecing refuge and taking it to the appropriate place,’’ he said.

    Jili added that the agency would not relent in its effort to ensure protection of lives and properties.

  • SEMA confirms 7 dead, 1 injured in Jos building collapse

    The Plateau State Emergency Management (SEMA) said seven people had died and one other was critically injured during Monday’s building collapse in Jos.
    The News Agency f Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-storey building located at Butcher Lane in Jos North Local Government Area of the state belonging to one Alhaji Rufai Kabiru collapsed on Monday evening.
    Mrs Junni Bala, SEMA Director of Search and Rescue, who confirmed the casualty figure to NAN on Tuesday in Jos said the figure may increase.
    “That was the figure as at last night.
    “The figure may increase today because we are continuing with the search and rescue operation this morning,” she said.
    However, DSP Terna Tyopev, Plateau Police Command Spokesperson, told NAN that the command had so far recorded three deaths and three injured persons.
    Tyopev said that the injured persons were rescued with various degrees of injury and had been rushed to the Plateau Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospitals,Jos, for treatment.
    He, however, said that the casualty may increase as some people may still be trapped in the rubbles.
    “The rescue operation is ongoing and there is likelihood that the casualty figure will increase,” he said.

  • Flooding: NEMA distributes relief materials to affected communities in Rivers

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of relief materials to flood affected communities in Rivers.

    The ongoing intervention distribution in Onelga Local Government Area of the state was witnessed by all the Community Development Chairmen (CDC) in the area.

    Mr Yakubu Suleiman, ead of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of NEMA in Bayelsa and Rivers, started the distribution on Thursday, in Onelga.

    Suleiman said that this phase of intervention was to ensure that the affected communities received means of livelihood after surviving from the shock of the flood.

    “The agency knows that the victims need food and non-food items to survive after the flood incident,” he said.

    Suleiman said that the agency had done intervention in all the camps of the affected LGAs and also in more than 50 communities in the area.

    He also said that about 71 communities in Ahoada West had benefited from the distribution of 100 bags of rice, garri, salt among others to each community in the area.

    Suleiman said that there was a shift of distribution of relief materials from the former system of handing over materials to SEMA or LGA chairmen.

    “We appeal to all state governments to embrace the direct distribution concept of NEMA. Direct distribution means, taking the materials door to door steps of the affected communities.

    “And not handing it over to State Emergency Agencies or Local Government chairmen and then go back to Abuja without reaching the communities.

    “This is exactly why we are taking it to the door steps of the victims. The communities involved signs an acknowledgement paper for us when they take their materials.

    “This shows that they received the materials and we also have our copy in case of doubt,” Suleiman said.

    He said that the post food team had taken records of all farms, buildings, health centers, worship centers and fish farms that were affected by the flood.

    “This team has been working with us and they will ensure that the victims get what they will use to survive,” he said.

    Suleiman stated that the relief for Bayelsa has yet to arrive; the materials on ground at the moment were meant for Rivers.

    He said that the distribution was successful due to the cooperation of the communities involved.

     

  • 24 dead, properties worth N13.2bn lost in Delta fire outbreak

    At least 24 persons died while 176 were rescued in the fire outbreaks which occurred in Delta between May 2015 and April 2018.

    Mr Ernest Ogwezzy, the state Commissioner in charge of Directorate of the Bureau for Special Duties disclosed this in Asaba on Monday at an annual news conference of the bureau.

    He said property worth N13.2 billion was also lost to fire outbreaks while the Delta Fire Service saved property worth N8.3 billion during the period.

    He highlighted some of the notable incidents to include that of Anioma Petrol Station, Okpanam Road, Asaba and the one that occurred at the College of Education Cooperative Filling Station, Warri.

    “Others are the fire at Beta Glass factory in Ughelli and the one at the Sapele Main Market which occurred on Oct. 13, 2017,’’ he said.

    The commissioner said “the fire statistics also showed that the state fire service attended to794 fire calls, out of which 63 were false calls.”

    Ogwezzy siad the bureau generated N53 million as revenue through the issuance and renewal of fire safety certificates to petrol and gas stations, industries and other business premises during the period.

    He said the State Government recently approved an insurance cover of N10 million yearly for all personnel of the service and N49 million for the procurement of firefighting equipment and accessories.

    The commissioner said that N41.1 million had been approved for the renovation of the Kwale, Issele-Uku, Agbor and Ugwashi-Uku fire service stations and the contractors would soon be mobilised.

    Ogwezzy said that N15.3 was approved for uniform and kits for the staff while N10 6 million was also approved for the construction of water hydrant/boreholes at the event centre in Asaba.

    The commissioner said that this was in the event of death, temporal and permanent disabilities that might occur in the course of their duties.

    He also said that the bureau through its State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) inspected over 115 cases of fires, 60 cases of rainstorm and over 2,500 cases of flood disasters across the state.

    The commissioner also said that the bureau, through SEMA, distributed relief materials to victims of rainstorms, fire disasters and flood across the state.

    “The agency was able to assist a total of 94 fire disaster victims across the state with the sum of N8.1 million.

    “The sum of N4.2 million was given to 53 victims of rainstorm disasters in Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state,’’ he said.

     

  • Over 40,000 persons displaced in Benue gunmen attack – SEMA

    The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said over 40,000 persons had been displaced following the recent gunmen attack in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr Emmanuel Shior told newsmen in Makurdi on Friday that the agency had opened four camps for the displaced persons in the affected areas.

    Shior disclosed that Gov. Samuel Ortom had been extremely worried over the plight of the people.

    “As we speak over 40,000 persons have so far been displaced as a result of the attacks on our people in Guma and Logo LGAs.

    “Government has decided to open four camps, three in Guma LGA and one in Logo LGA, the camps in Guma LGA are in Daudu, Gbajimba and Agasha, while the camp in Logo LGA is in Ugba,” he said.

    Shior said that the state government decided to locate the camps in areas considered safest in the LGAs for security reasons.

    “The camps are in areas that are safe and enough security has being provided for the safety of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    “What we are doing at the moment is to open temporary camps except the one in Daudu that already has existing camp facilities, the others camps are situated in primary schools located in the areas.

    “We do not hope to keep them in the camps for a long time, remember this is January and most of the affected persons are farmers who are still harvesting their crops,” he said.

    Shior said that government was concerned about the security of the people and their communities to enable them to return back to their homes instead of staying in the camps.

    He assured the IDPs that though they were displaced they were not misplaced as government and his agency would do everything possible to give them minimum comfort.