The Emergency Response Bays established by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to reduce response time to emergency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded about 1,037 emergency incidences between September 2013 and June 2015.

Abuja Operations Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Ishaya Isa Chonoko, who disclosed this at the weekend, said the bays established by the agency for the stakeholders in line with its coordination roles have also succeeded in building the required synergy in which they are now working efficiently together in addressing emergency challenges in FCT.

He said about 4,040 persons were involved in the emergency incidences with 1,389 injured and 186 deaths. He gave the breakdown of the incidences with road traffic accidents being the highest with 1,008 followed by fire, collapsed structures and drowning.

Mr Chonoko said the bays which are strategically located with the aim of reducing response time to emergency situations, are equipped with urban search and rescue tools including the fully equipped rescue tenders, rapid intervention vehicles and mobile intensive care unit ambulances. They are located in Central Area adjacent to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway (Airport road) Lugbe, Kubwa Expressway and Nyanya by Karu junction.

Mr Chonoko further said the bays were being jointly manned with the stakeholders that have deployed their search and rescue officers as well as paramedics drawn from the agencies including the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, military paramedics and Federal Road safety corps among others.

He also said that the agency had over the years continued to support operations of the stakeholders including their manpower development, presentation of equipment such as ambulances, maintenance of their tools and experience sharing on global best practices in emergency management.

•Photo shows NEMA DG, Sidi Ali.