NEMA, FAAN Sign MoU To Strengthen Partnership At Owerri Airport

Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Owerri Operational Office, Mr Nnamdi Igwe, has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, to manage and bring emergencies under control.

This is even as the MoU clearly stated that no party shall incur legal obligations beyond those explicitly stated in the agreement.

Igwe said the MoU was aimed at strengthening collaboration between both agencies and formalizing their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the NEMA, Owerri office last week.

The FAAN delegation included Mrs Njaka (head of Medicals), Mr Ikemefula (head of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services – ARFFS), Mrs Emilia Erekosima (head of Operations) and Mrs Juliet Nwafor (chief safety officer).

According to the provisions of the MoU, NEMA is to provide all available resources—including information, equipment, materials, and technical expertise—to support Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and other relevant agencies in managing and bringing emergencies under control adding that the support is to be rendered as a matter of national service.

Igwe said “the agreement further stipulates that all assistance provided by NEMA—such as personnel, ambulances, equipment, and other logistics—must be in good working condition. And the MoU states that no party shall incur legal obligations beyond those explicitly stated in the agreement”.

On their part, the Sam Mbakwe airport management will ensure that FAAN’s Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) equipment are maintained in optimal condition and will provide an enabling environment for effective emergency response operations.

Further, FAAN ARFFS will be responsible for promptly alerting relevant stakeholders in the event of emergencies and maintaining open communication throughout and after response operations, as necessary.

Other discussions centred on training programmes and key emergency management issues, after which the MoU was formally signed.

In another development, the Owerri NEMA office has begun direct distribution of relief items to flood-affected communities in Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State.

Nnamdi Igwe, head of operations at the NEMA Owerri office said it was in fulfillment of their mandate to deliver timely humanitarian support, adding that the Director General of NEMA authorised the release of relief materials to flood victims in Nwaorieubi, in the Mbaitoli local government area.

He said the approval was given in line with the 2025 flood summary reports for Imo State which classified Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitoli as some of the flood-prone areas in Imo State.

“Our aim is to ensure that the distribution was successfully carried out, achieve its objective of delivering prompt humanitarian assistance to flood-affected communities. And I’m happy everything went well”, Igwe said.

He conveyed the goodwill message of NEMA DG, Mrs Zubaida Umar, and expressed sympathy to the affected residents, even as he encouraged the community to adopt preventive measures against future flooding.

Chairman of Mbaitoli LGA, Hon Ifunanya Lactus Nwanegwo expressed appreciation to both NEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and pledged that the items would reach those most in need.