The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was on Thursday, in Abuja, awarded the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award.
The Agency was recognized for its “impressive and timely responses to disasters as well as the success it has achieved in the promotion of disaster risk reduction in the country.
The awards to fifteen individuals and three Organizations, including NEMA, were presented to them by the Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo GCON, who represented the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR.
In his remarks, the President said “since inception, the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award recognizes excellence and hard work in all strata and segments of our society and is quite devoid of politics. It therefore, deserves the high premium it has earned. I therefore encourage you to continue to keep the highest standard that has been established.
“The fifteen (15) individuals and three (3) Organizations who are this year’s conferees of this distinguished award, have, after rigorous screening, been adjudged exceptionally productive by the National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee.”
The President congratulated the Awardees for their inspirational work and commitment to excellence and reminded them that “This ward places greater obligation on you to give your best to your country. This Administration needs men and women like you to help build a virile and economically developed nation.”
The National Productivity Centre, in an earlier letter of nomination for the award to NEMA, said the Agency was selected after a rigorous process and found worthy of the honour. It said the Agency has been very visible and its impacts effectively felt in crisis situations such as incidences of building collapse, air crash, market fires and flood, amongst several others across the country.
The Agency’s prompt and continuing intervention in the present humanitarian challenges in the North East as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency and other activities such as delivery of humanitarian assistance to sister African countries were also taken into consideration.
Reacting to the award, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said “Today’s conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award on NEMA is recognition of our humble contribution to the development of our dear country. It is indeed a call for more dedication towards the national call to service in line with the National Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.”
He expressed gratitude to God Almighty and thanked Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, the Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo GCON and the Governing Council of NEMA for their unflinching support and cooperation to the management and staff of the Agency.
Sani Sidi said it was impressive that an important institution like the National Productivity Center has taken keen interest in the activities and performances of Agencies of Government and the private sector and rewards them to propel them to greater heights.
He dedicated the award “To our teeming stakeholders, too numerous to mention, for supporting us in the onerous task of disaster management in Nigeria.
Displaced persons from Gwoza get relief
National Emergency Management Agency officials led by the Agency’s North East Zonal Coordinator, Muhammed Kanar, were in Madagali town, in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Thursday, August 21, to deliver relief items to people displaced by the attack on Gwoza by Boko Haram insurgents.
The displaced persons fled to Madagalli which is less than 20 kilometers from Gwoza.
From Madagali, the NEMA team moved to Mubi where 4,870 displaced persons from Gwoza are also taking refuge at Lamorde Primary School camp to conduct needs assessment before distributing appropriate relief materials to them.
Relief items provided by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan are also being distributed by the Agency. Kanar who represented the Director General of the Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi, said the reliefs provided by the First Lady would be distributed in Madagali, Mubi, Askira Uba and Lassa, where internally displaced persons have been registered by the Agency.
The distribution will continue tomorrow in Mubi where 4876 IDPs from Gwoza have been registered at Lamorde primary and day secondary school IDP camp where a needs assessment was conducted in preparation for tomorrow’s exercise.
The zonal Coordinator is expected to participate in hand over of relief items provided by the first lady Dame patience Jonathan on behalf of the DG NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani sidi in Mubi. Other areas where the relief operation is expected to cover include Askira Uba and Lassa where IDPs have also been identified by the Agency.
