The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Wednesday, organised a refresher training on search and rescue for its staff as part of measures to heighten preparedness for impending floods.

The director, Search and Rescue, NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman, said the training had become crucial as disasters were occurring with increasing frequency.

Mr Usman, who was represented by the head, Mission Control Centre, Captain Ademola Oriyomi, said participants were expected to take the training seriously and observe safety protocols, noting that the exercise would be conducted regularly.

“This training is very crucial for us because disasters are happening left, right and centre. At that time there is confusion and chaos, so we cannot afford failure.

“Everybody knows you for NEMA. They will not care whether you are from accounts or media.

“When you are wearing your orange shirt, they expect you to come to their aid. That is why we need this refresher training,” he said.

Mr Usman said the training, which included simulations on fire, high-rise building collapse and water-related emergencies, would end with a practical session on marine safety at the Jabi Dam in Abuja.

Giving an overview of the exercise, the assistant director, Operations, Labaran Ahmad, said the training followed an alert by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) that about 15 states would experience heavy flash and riverine flooding.

“The director-general, Mrs Zubaida Umar directed all the 17 field offices to heighten their readiness in response to flood.

“What we are doing today is sharpening our skills on search and rescue in flood waters and evacuation of communities that will be inundated,” Mr Ahmad said.

He said the director-general had approved the training for all NEMA offices across the six geopolitical zones, adding that offices unable to hold it on Wednesday would do so on Friday.

Mr Ahmad urged participants to take the training seriously, stressing that saving lives was a serious business and that NEMA was adopting a whole-of-society approach to disaster management.

Also, a facilitator, John Digha, who presented a paper on rescue techniques in swift and flood waters, said the session focused on survival swimming, the use of life jackets, decision-making before entering water and resuscitation of drowning victims.

“You must rescue yourself first before any other person.

“Understanding that water is not your enemy but your friend will help you survive and rescue others,” he said.

He described flood rescue as difficult and dangerous, noting that rescuers must be equipped with the right skills and equipment.

Participants interviewed said the training had equipped them with basic knowledge of whom to contact during fire, building collapse and flood emergencies, even when they could not directly intervene.

(NAN)