Community Involvement Key to Disaster Management, Says Aba North Chairman, Timothy Kalu Iheke as Abia Government Inaugurates Local Emergency Management Committees Across 17 LGAs

The Executive Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, has underscored the importance of community involvement in tackling disasters, describing it as a critical element in building resilience and ensuring rapid emergency response across Abia State.

Hon. Iheke made this remark while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Local Government Chairmen at the official inauguration of the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) for the seventeen LGAs of Abia State. The ceremony was held at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Umuahia.

According to the Aba North Mayor, the establishment of the LEMCs marks a new dawn for grassroots disaster management. He commended the State Government for decentralizing emergency coordination but further advocated the creation of dedicated offices for the committees to enable them function more effectively.

He stressed that without community participation, the impact of the initiative would be limited, noting that local residents must be adequately sensitized and engaged to serve as first responders during emergencies.

The event, performed on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, by the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Sunny Jackson, witnessed the formal unveiling of the LEMCs. 

Dr. Jackson explained that each committee is made up of fourteen members, chaired by the Local Government Mayors, with the objective of building grassroots capacity against the rising threats of climate change and other environmental hazards.

“The creation of LEMCs is timely and critical, as disaster become more frequent due to climate change, it is important to decentralize emergency coordination for rapid response,” Dr. Jackson stated, assuring that the government will provide full support to make the initiative effective.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, commended the government for the initiative and pledged the Ministry’s support to strengthen the committees.

The event attracted key stakeholders, including the Executive Chairman of Aba South, Hon. Obialor Anyanwu; other Mayors from across the state; representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); environmental experts; and civil society groups.

Highlights of the programme included technical presentations by Dr. Sunny Jackson on “The Establishment and Strengthening of LEMCs in Abia State” and “Framework for Local Preparedness, Response and Resilience.”

With the inauguration of the LEMCs, and the call for grassroots engagement as championed by Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, Abia State is charting a bold path towards proactive disaster management and resilience-building at the community level.