• By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti

As part of the resolute actions of the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji to build strong synergy with the federal Government’s agencies, the State is to partner Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) to reinforce security and tackle the menaces of poverty and disasters that could ravage the state.

The partnership was sealed during the visit of the State delegation, led by the Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Deputy Governor’s office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, in company of the General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency(EKSEMA), Mr. Oludare Asaolu to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos, on Friday.

Also at the meeting with NIMASA was the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency(LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu.

A statement made available to TopNews in Ado-Ekiti, on Saturday, by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, asserted that the partnership was geared towards mapping out action plans to reinforce security through donation of gadgets to Ekiti to fortify security architectures; both state and non state actors.

Opeyemi revealed that working with NIMASA would also provide the leeway for exchange of ideas and skills on how to combat incidences of disasters, like flooding, fire and rainstorms that pose existential threat to lives and property of the citizens.

Determined to rout poverty in line with Governor Oyebanji’s policy-thrust , Opeyemi added that government, also craved NIMASA’s extension of intervention programmes like material and financial empowerments to vulnerable groups like women, widows and unemployed youths to stamp out poverty in the state.

According to the top civil servant : “The state’s delegates requested for assistance to strengthen security in Ekiti through provision of security equipment, providing empowerment support and grants for the poor and vulnerable people in the communities.

“We sought support and collaboration with NIMASA on strategies of ensuring the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the state.

“Besides security, we appealed to NIMASA to extend empowerment programmes to our vulnerable groups to reduce poverty in line with the programmes and policies of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

“The issue of how to mitigate disasters like rainstorms, flooding, fire incidences and other emergency issues was also brought to the front burner, because the security of lives and property of Ekiti residents were so dear to our governor.

“We presented the requests on behalf of the state government which requires the collaboration with NIMASA in the area of building of the capacity of responders to emergency and disaster situations in the state, which was granted because of the integrity Governor Biodun Oyebanji has built”, Opeyemi said.

Responding, NIMASA’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Dayo Mobereola, applauded the Ekiti Government for having the intuition to build strong partnership with federal agencies to attract federal presence to the state and shore up democracy dividends to the citizens.

Mobereola, represented by the Director, Marine Environment Management, Mr. Heaky Dimowo, appreciated the Permanent Secretary, EKSEMA and LASEMA, for the visit, promising support and collaboration to ensure the safety of coastal areas, waterways as well as the hinterland across Nigeria.

The Director General promised that the Agency will assist Ekiti in building the capacity of relevant personnel as well as intervene in the areas of providing critical equipment for appropriate security agencies.

The meeting with NIMASA was a fallout of the visit of Governor Oyebanji to LASEMA earlier in March , 2024 and the follow-up study tour of LASEMA operations and facilities by officials from Ekiti State.