The Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir (Hon.) Allwell Ihunda, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in disaster prevention, mitigation, and emergency response across the city.
Sir Ihunda made this known when he received a delegation from the NEMA Port Harcourt office, led by its Head of Operations, Eric Ebuodaghe, during a courtesy visit to the Council Secretariat on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The Mayor commended NEMA for its consistent partnership and prompt interventions in previous emergency situations, citing the Agency’s swift response during the 2021 Oroworukwo building collapse, which was successfully managed without casualties through joint efforts with the Council and other agencies.
“We are grateful for the synergy between NEMA and the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council. Your timely response to distress calls and provision of relief materials during floods and other emergencies have greatly helped in mitigating losses,” Ihunda stated.
He further expressed appreciation to the NEMA Director General and the Federal Government for their continued support, assuring the Agency of the Council’s full cooperation in all disaster management initiatives.
The Mayor also announced that his administration had allocated a dedicated office space for NEMA within the newly constructed office complex designed to accommodate federal agencies and parastatals.
“In anticipation of your active operations at the local government level, we have provided an office space for NEMA within our Secretariat to strengthen coordination and ensure faster response to emergencies,” he said.
Ihunda also highlighted ongoing preventive measures by the Council, including the de-silting of drainages across the city to improve water flow and minimize flooding. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a safe and resilient environment for residents.
Earlier, Ebuodaghe commended the Mayor for his proactive leadership in environmental safety and disaster management. He noted that although the flood season is winding down, other hazards continue to pose risks to communities.
“Disasters don’t just stop suddenly. We are here to strengthen collaboration with your administration to ensure that all forms of hazards within the LGA are effectively managed,” he said.
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He emphasized the importance of community-based disaster management and called for joint efforts in training local residents as first responders.
“When disasters occur, it is the communities that respond first. NEMA’s strategy is to train and develop local volunteers who can act swiftly before professional assistance arrives,” Ebuodaghe added.
He assured the Mayor of NEMA’s continued partnership with the Port Harcourt City Local Government to build resilience, create awareness, and implement sustainable disaster prevention and management measures across all communities.
