Yuletide: NEMA Flags Off Operation Eagle Eye

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, December 24, (THEWILL) -  The Northeast zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has flagged off this year's edition of its road safety campaign, tagged 'Operation Eagle Eye 2013' targeted at reducing road accidents during the yuletide period. The zonal coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, who flagged off the programme on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said the programme is aimed at  ensuring  strict enforcement of traffic rules and regulations as part of measures to ensure safer road use and reduce accidents during   the yuletide. Kanar disclosed that the campaign, which saw NEMA officials embarking on  public enlightenment for motorists on Maiduguri-Damaturu road. is in line with NEMA's mandate of coordinating and managing   hazards and disasters, mobilising all stakeholders to stem the perennial menace of road crashes during the yuletide. ''The period of 23rd December to 3rd of January of every year has always been the peak for loss of lives from road traffic crashes due to mass movement of people to various places during the period,'' Kanar said. While calling for sustainable programme to reduce road crashes and crime rate during festive periods, the NEMA chief  stressed the need for collective effort  from all   stakeholders, maintaining that disaster management is a collective responsibility  requiring  collaboration and cooperation from everybody.