The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed plans to train local divers across flood-prone communities on improved ways of rescuing victims trapped during flood disasters.

NEMA Head, Benin Operations Office, Kenoma Ojuederie, disclosed this in an interview with journalists during a one-day refresher training for emergency management stakeholders on urban search and rescue.

He said the refresher training was designed to achieve effective coordination and response during disaster management by bringing emergency stakeholders together so that, in the event of a flood emergency where people are trapped, they would be better equipped to carry out rescue operations.

He added that the training was also aimed at strengthening inter-agency operational readiness, enhancing coordination during emergencies and continuously upgrading the operational capabilities of participating agencies.

According to him, the agency would scale down the training to the grassroots because local people are usually the first responders in the event of a flood before external help arrives.

“We are going to identify local divers in flood-prone communities who are helping in rescue operations during floods, train them and improve their methods of rescuing people trapped in flood water,” he said.

He noted that the knowledge, skills and strategic insights shared during the training would significantly strengthen the agency’s joint response readiness and ultimately save lives when disasters strike.

Ojuederie, however, charged the people to take note of early warning signs of rising floodwater due to heavy rainfall, assuring that the agency had achieved about 80 per cent preparedness for emergency response.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EDOSEMA), Dr Jerry Idahosa, described the training as timely and significant, given the increasing need for well-coordinated, professional and effective emergency response.

According to him, search and rescue operations demand not only courage and commitment but also specialised knowledge, proper preparation, teamwork and strict adherence to safety procedures.

Also speaking, one of the resource persons, Abu Jibrin of the Federal Fire Service, said effective emergency management was predicated on adequate preparation, proper equipment, teamwork and good coordination.

He noted that during disaster management, those injured, trapped or in serious danger should be given priority attention over those who were not facing immediate threats.

Daily Trust reports that the stakeholders in the refresher training included officials of EDOSEMA, the Federal Fire Service, Edo State Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police Force. (Daily Trust)