The Edo State office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday held its Customer Service Week, with a call for stronger stakeholder collaboration to strengthen disaster management and emergency response in Edo State.
The event emphasized the need for synergy among relevant agencies, community leaders and responders to improve preparedness, mitigation and timely intervention during emergencies.
Speaking during the event at its office in Benin City, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, said Customer’s Service Week provides an important opportunity for the agency to reflect on the quality of service they provide, appreciate personnel, listen to the people they serve and renew commitment.
Reading the DG speech, NEMA’s Head of Benin Operations Office, Kenoma Ojuedeire, represented by Joseph Akpofabe, Assistant Chief Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, noted that customer’s service has a significance that go beyond conventional service delivery.
”Our stakeholders are often people affected by disaster, displaced families, vulnerable communities , government institution, humanitarian partners and citizens who turn to the agency at some of the most difficult moment in their life.
”Humanitarian service delivery requires more than efficiency, compassion, responsiveness, professionalism, accountability, inclusiveness, professional, accountability, inclusiveness and genuine understanding of the needs and dignity of the people we serve”
According to him, NEMA has, over the years, strengthened its operational presence through its zonal and operations offices while working closely with state emergency management agencies, security agencies, response organisations, development partners and local governments, among others.
She added that the agency had continued to support disaster assessments, search-and-rescue operations and early warning systems aimed at mitigating the impact of disasters.
”As we continues to strengthen disaster risk management and humanitarian response across Nigeria, our ultimate measure of success must remain the difference we make in lives of people and communities affect disasters”
”We must therefore continue to crew promote a workplace culture in which staff are encouraged to be responsive, respectful. Innovative, solution oriented accountable”.
” At the same time, management has a responsibility to provide a systems resources, capacity and leadership necessary for staff to deliver Effectively
According to him, disaster management cannot be achieved by NEMA alone, the disaster nature and enormity of contemporary disaster requires strong partnership coordinated action, We must therefore continue to improve communication, coordination, consultation and stakeholder participation .
”As NEMA continues to strengthen disaster risk management and humanitarian response across Nigeria, our ultimate measure of success must remain the difference we make in the lives of people and communities affected by disasters”
Also speaking, Engr. Michael Aigbokhai, who represented the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA), Jerry Idahosa, assured NEMA of the agency’s continued collaboration to improve emergency response in the state.
Similarly, Wilson Ekhomagazin, Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Edo State, said the society was willing to collaborate with NEMA in responding to emergencies across the state.
He expressed optimism that the Customer Service Week celebration would strengthen cooperation among emergency management stakeholders and improve disaster response in Edo State.
On her part, DSF Okhipo Afoke, representative of the Edo State Controller Federal Fire Service, DCF Jeremiah Bidemi, commended NEMA for recognizing stakeholders in emergency management.
She restated the service commitment to collaborating with NEMA in strengthening disaster management and emergency response in the state.
NEMA Holds Customer Service Week in Edo, Calls for Collaboration to Strengthen Emergency Response
