Remembering Sani Sidi’s days as NEMA boss
For almost seven years, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) witnessed visible progress in the discharge of its core mandate of mitigating and reacting to disaster situations across the country. On the saddle of leadership at the agency, during this period of unprecedented growth, was Muhammad Sani Sidi, OFR.
He worked with his colleagues at NEMA, stakeholders and international partners to reposition the agency. He built on successes of his predecessors, who led the agency at inception. In line with global best practice, Sidi made deliberate efforts to shift focus from disaster response to mitigation and risk reduction. He enshrined effectiveness in disaster management strategy.
Through policies deliberately formulated to make NEMA more responsive to the citizens, the Sidi led team established eight new operation offices in Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Niger and Sokoto States to complement activities of the existing Zonal Offices in the six geo-political zones. This led to effective disaster management at the grassroots and guaranteed timely humanitarian response.
It was also in furtherance of this vision that NEMA under his watch, through sustained advocacy and partnership with all state governments and the FCT established 31 states emergency management agencies. The number increased from 10 that were in existence prior to his appointment. Sidi also initiated the partnership between NEMA and six federal universities for increased manpower. Presently, NEMA sponsors post-graduate course on Disaster Management and Development Studies in these partner universities.
In practical terms, two major incidents defined the change in humanitarian dashboard. The first was the devastating 2012 flood disaster and then the insurgency that ravaged some states in the Northeast. Both disasters have led to monumental loss of lives and displacement of thousands of people mostly women and children. In both cases, NEMA under Sidi, measured up to task, provided effective contingency prepositioning of relief items and sustained rapid humanitarian responses.
One phenomenal challenge that continues to bedevil humanitarian action globally is delayed response whenever calamity strikes. To address that, Sidi’s team established the multiple Emergency Response Ambulance Bays (ERABs) equipped with mobile intensive care unit ambulances and incidence response vans at strategic locations within and around Abuja city on a pilot basis.
Similarly, a functional Call Centre for 24-hour reception, processing and dissemination of distress calls from members of the public, was setup for prompt emergency response. A state of the art Geographic Information (GIS) laboratory for satellite image interpretation, disaster risk mapping and early warning information dissemination was established.
Under his watch, the emergency management agency also acquired state of the art machinery and heavy-duty equipment for emergency response such as excavators, air ambulance and rescue helicopter. The air ambulance has the capacity to undertake medical evacuation across Nigeria and can fly non-stop to any European and Middle Eastern capital. The agency has also signed a memorandum of understanding with major national and foreign hospitals for the reception of medical emergencies.
On international operations, NEMA under Sani Sidi facilitated successful repatriation of thousands of stranded Nigerians from Libya, Mali, Gabon, Saudi Arabia, the Central African Republic (CAR) and South-Africa. This is apart from provision of humanitarian assistance to crisis-hit countries like Kenya, Guinea, South-Sudan, Saharawi Arab Republic, Congo, Central Africa Republic, Niger, Mali and the Gambia.
As direct effect of these numerous interventions, most communities in the country today have built resilience to disasters. They are aware of various actions required to mitigate disaster situations.
Soon after Sidi was relieved of his appointment as NEMA boss, the European Union (EU) tapped into his experience. Sani Sidi is presently the EU Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for West Africa.
As one, who never doubted his capacity when he was appointed to head NEMA in 2010, I join relatives, friends and several others to wish Muhammad Sani Sidi, OFR a happy 51st birthday. I pray to Almighty Allah to increase him in wisdom and knowledge.