By Stanley Onyekwere
The immediate past, Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) , Dr. Abbas Idriss has called on the FCT Administration under the watch of the Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to facilitate increased funding to the Agency, to enable effective delivery of its mandate.
Idriss, who was the pioneer DG of the Agency, made the call at a send-off ceremony organized in his honor, and also to mark FEMA’s 10-year anniversary, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, on Wednesday.
Idriss was appointed as the FEMA’s DG in 2013 and served for 10 years until his retirement in September 2023.
The retired FEMA boss noted that there was much need to be done to reposition the Agency to be able to deliver its mandates.
Also, he lamented that the non-assent of the Bill that established Agency coupled with the insufficient funding had grossly affected the strength and growth of the Agency.
He said: “Looking at the mandate of FEMA when it was created in 2013, the Bombing incidence that followed and other emergencies including endemic and flood threading the survival the young Agency, these threats were made worse by the budgetary constraint and absence of the take up grant, that should had given strong muscle to the Agency to merge the prevailing it had to deal with.
“Furthermore, the non domestication of the law enabling FEMA as stipulated in 1999 grossly affected strength and growth potentials of the Agency.”
Earlier, the acting DG of the Agency Mr. Mohammed Sabo, disclosed that over the years, Dr. Abbas Idriss’s unwavering commitment, visionary leadership and tireless dedication have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of Emergency Management Agency within the territory.
“Dr. Abbas Idriss’ tenure was marked by integrity, professionalism, and steadfast dedication to the principle of public services.
“Under your stewardship the FCT Federal Emergency Management Agency have achieved all respected milestone, your relentless pursue of excellence couple with personate spirit has inspired countless individual within the Agency and community at large.
“Your legacy of service will endure as a testament of your passion of the welfare of the people and your unwavering commitment to the betterment of the society”, he stressed.
Similaarly, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, described Idris as a workaholic, a mentor, and a seasoned professional with passion.
Wenegieme, added that, the pioneer DG had laid the very formidable foundation upon which FEMA was built and positioned on the path which has brought progress and achievements to the Agency.
On his part, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Adesola Olusade, noted that Dr. Idriss’s due diligence and hard work have strengthened local response to emergency situations.
Adesola added that the success of the pioneer DG will be measured by the number of disasters that were avoided and controlled in the FCT under his stewardship.
Not left out, the Convener, African Network for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr. Soji Adeniyie expressed excitement that Idriss was leaving the Agency with very strong legacy he have established.
