The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar has solicited the support of the Nigerian Police to improve disaster management in the country.

Mrs Umar made the request when she visited the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun at the Louis Edet House, Abuja.

The NEMA DG explained that the visit was to strengthen partnership between NEMA and the Nigerian Police given the increasing disaster incidents in the country.

She said the experience had indicated that disaster sites were potential crime scenes, and the police had consistently provided NEMA with security and safety cordons to enable life saving search and rescue operations wherever the need arose.

Mrs Umar said with the forecast that some communities would be affected by flood this year, there is a need for the Police to activate its emergency response teams to work with NEMA in saving lives and livelihoods.

Responding, the Inspector General of Police Dr Egbetokun appreciated the DG for the visit and assured that the Nigerian Police would sustain the existing partnership with NEMA.

The DG NEMA was accompanied on the visit by the Director Planning, Research and Forecasting Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore Kennedy Matalowu, Ag Director Relief and Rehabilitation Alhaji Abdullahi Usur, Special Assistant to the DG Mr Idris Mohammed, Technical Assistant to the DG Hajiya Rakiya Umar and Head of Airwing, Capt Ibrahim Mamman.

The Inspector General of Police was joined by senior officers of the Force in receiving the DG NEMA and her team.

Among the senior officers were Deputy Inspector General Frank Mba, DIG Bala Ciroma and others.