The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA has disclosed that its Mission Control Centre (MCC) received a total of 80 distress alert signals in 2012 from maritime, aviation and land users.

The Director General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on coordination of satellite-aided search and rescue services in Nigeria held in Lagos over the weekend.

Sani-Sidi added that the computer-based satellite technology that uses the COSPAS-SARSAT hi-tech system/facility had helped search and rescue officers to respond timely in saving victims from distress, especially on the high sea where most of the distress alerts came from.

The system is designed to pick distress alerts and location data to assist in search and rescue operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons. It also facilitates the speedy location of distress alerts even in remote locations.

Represented by the Director Search and Rescue of the agency, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, the NEMA boss explained that the meeting was convened to iron out the issues and challenges which could be used to optimise coordination between the various agencies in preventing air and marine disasters in 2013.

Issues discussed at the meeting included the high false alerts rate; roles of various stakeholders in following up alerts and reported cases of accidents where beacons do not trigger. Participants came from NIMASA, NCCA, NAMA, AIB, Police, Airforce, Navy, and operators in the both the maritime and airline industries.

In another development, stakeholders have harped on value re-orientation for conflict and disaster management in Nigeria. This was an outcome of a workshop on “Peace building and conflict management for sustainable development in Nigeria” organised in Kaduna by NEMA in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, National Orientation Agency and National Boundary Commission.

The participants, mostly representatives of communities, religious bodies and non-governmental organisations, called for active collaboration among government and private organisations and communities to promote peaceful coexistence and safety through value re-orientation among the citizens.

They also identified the imperatives for proactive measures backed by relevant laws for early warning and responses to conflicts and disasters. They also urged the government to empower relevant agencies with the mandates on conflict and disaster, while ensuring social justice and provision of amenities in the communities as well as employment opportunities for the youths to also contribute to the development and peace in the country.

•Photo shows a female NEMA staffer interpreting satellite signals.

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