AfriPulse
October 20, (THEWILL) — The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening emergency coordination and early warning mechanisms across all Local Government Areas to reduce the impact of flood and other disasters nationwide.
This was disclosed during a two-day Emergency Preparedness and Response Stakeholders Engagement Workshop held in Maiduguri on Monday.
The workshop, organised by NEMA in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the Borno State Government, was aimed at equipping stakeholders with practical skills in disaster preparedness and response.
Speaking at the event, NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to enhance local disaster management structures, improve data collection, and promote community resilience.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Bamidele Onimode, Umar said the training sought to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in mitigating risks and responding effectively during emergencies at the grassroots level.
She emphasized that proactive planning and strong inter-agency collaboration were essential to improving national resilience.
“As we begin this two-day engagement, let us reflect on how far we have come and, more importantly, on how much more we can achieve together.
“The discussions, technical sessions, and planning dialogues here will consolidate the progress we have built across the federation,” she said.
Umar urged participants to embrace a shift from “reaction to preparedness, from coordination to resilience, and from intention to sustainable action.”
Also speaking, the World Bank Country Director’s representative, Oluwaseun Olowoporoku, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting Borno State through technical assistance, operational support, and knowledge exchange.
“The World Bank is supporting this process in Borno State with a sense of urgency and responsibility. Global experience shows that every dollar invested in preparedness saves multiple dollars in response and recovery costs while protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
He described the initiative as “a moment for innovation, collaboration, and concrete action,” adding that the goal was to build an emergency response system that is “smart, inclusive, and effective for the people of Borno State.”
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Ali Abdullahi Isa, commended NEMA for its leadership and commitment to safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
He assured that the state government would continue to strengthen collaboration with NEMA and other relevant agencies to enhance disaster risk management across the state
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