By Laraba MUREY
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Zubaida Umar, has called for stronger partnerships to improve disaster management in Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by NEMA’s Head of Press Unit, Manzo Ezekiel, she said the call was made while speaking at a side event on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Umar, speaking at the high-level panel themed “Global Partnerships, Local Prosperity: Unlocking Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Blueprint for Sustainable Growth,” told participants that partnerships are key to achieving the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She said NEMA is focused on collaborations that go beyond donations, aiming for empowerment, sustainability, and resilience in communities.
She stressed that effective disaster response must start at the local level, with states and communities prepared before crises escalate to the federal level.
According to her, Kaduna State has set a good example by identifying higher grounds, setting up camps, and preparing ahead of the flood season.
“At NEMA, we are pursuing strategic partnerships that ensure communities are not only supported during crises but are also better equipped to face future shocks,” she said.
Umar also reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders at all levels, including international partners, to build a stronger and more resilient Nigeria.
