As Rainy Season Nears, NEMA DG Calls for Proactive Disaster Management
Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s emergency management architecture, warning that the country remains largely reactive rather than proactive in responding to disasters.
Speaking to PRNigeria ahead of the 2026 rainy season, Umar said Nigeria’s emergency framework—designed to anticipate and mitigate risks—continues to prioritise post-disaster relief over prevention and preparedness. She cautioned that climate change is increasing the unpredictability of disasters, even in areas previously considered low risk.
Although the 2026 seasonal forecast does not predict severe flooding, she noted that rapid urban flooding, especially in cities with poor drainage systems, remains a major concern. She urged state governments to implement NEMA’s annual preparedness advisories, including identifying evacuation zones, pre positioning relief materials, and strengthening local emergency committees.
“The spotlight must now shift to the states,” she said, calling for stronger accountability and collaboration across all levels of government.
Umar disclosed that NEMA receives hundreds of weekly requests from Nigerians—including state officials—seeking food, relief items, and logistics support after floods, windstorms, and fires. “This is not emergency management. It is emergency charity,” she said, stressing the need to redefine performance metrics beyond distributing relief materials.
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She attributed many of the challenges to structural weaknesses, particularly the failure of state governments to fully operationalise State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). Many SEMAs, she said, are underfunded, understaffed, and lack direct reporting lines to governors, weakening coordination.
Umar also cited cases where NEMA offices are located far from disaster prone communities, delaying response times. She added that security threats frequently hinder operations, with personnel sometimes forced to abort missions due to bandit activity. Effective disaster response, she said, requires not only logistics but trauma management, community trust building, and conflict resolution.
Poor inter agency coordination remains another major setback, she noted, as frequent personnel redeployments disrupt continuity and institutional memory. She, however, commended the military’s Disaster Response Units (DRUs), describing them as one of the most effective components of Nigeria’s emergency response system.
Despite constraints, Umar highlighted reforms introduced under her leadership, including hazard allowances and formal conditions of service for NEMA personnel. She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to building a proactive, coordinated, and resilient emergency management framework capable of safeguarding lives.
Meanwhile, disaster management experts have questioned how states utilise ecological funds meant for environmental risk mitigation. They called for greater accountability and investment in preventive infrastructure such as evacuation centres and drainage systems.
Mr. Labaran Saleh of Youth Against Disaster Initiatives (YADI) criticised inadequate funding for SEMAs and noted that NEMA itself lacks modern equipment, functional aircraft, and sufficient operational resources. He said much of the agency’s equipment is outdated—some procured more than 15 years ago—while budget approvals for critical interventions remain delayed.
By PRNigeria
