The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to building effective emergency preparedness and response systems across all local government areas in Nigeria. The initiative aims to strengthen disaster coordination, data management, and early warning mechanisms at the grassroots level.
NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, stated this during a two-day workshop themed “Emergency Preparedness & Response Stakeholders Engagement Workshop” held in Maiduguri. The training, organized in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Borno State Government, is designed to equip key stakeholders with essential disaster management and response skills.
Represented by Bamidele Onimode, Director of Planning and Research Forecasting, Umar highlighted the importance of defining clear roles for local stakeholders to ensure swift and coordinated responses during emergencies. She reiterated the agency’s goal of moving from reactive measures to proactive preparedness through multi-agency collaboration.
Umar noted, “As we begin this engagement, let us reflect on how far we’ve come and how much more we can achieve together. Let’s continue to move from reaction to preparedness, from coordination to resilience.”
In his remarks, Oluwaseun Olowoporoku, representing the World Bank Country Director, reaffirmed the Bank’s support for Borno State through technical assistance, operational support, and knowledge sharing. He added that investing in preparedness yields long-term benefits, saying, “Every dollar invested in preparedness saves several more in response and recovery while protecting lives and livelihoods.”
