Leadership and response to national disasters

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has marked one year since the appointment of Zubaida Umar as Director General on 15 March 2024.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, Umar’s tenure has seen operational reforms, enhanced disaster response mechanisms, and improved inter-agency collaboration.

One of the most notable events during her first year was the agency’s response to the 2024 nationwide floods, which affected millions across Nigeria.

Under her leadership, NEMA coordinated relief efforts, deployed emergency response teams, and worked with state governments and humanitarian organisations to support affected communities.

The agency also strengthened early warning systems, issuing alerts that helped mitigate loss of life and property.

Strengthening early warning and disaster preparedness

NEMA reported that it has reinforced its early warning systems to improve disaster preparedness.

These measures included issuing advance flood alerts to communities and deploying prepositioned rescue teams to ensure rapid response.

During the 2024 floods, NEMA stated that response teams were deployed within hours of reported incidents, providing temporary shelters, food, and medical aid.

Collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, Red Cross, United Nations agencies, and other humanitarian organisations helped facilitate coordinated relief efforts.

The agency has also launched public awareness initiatives aimed at educating communities on disaster preparedness.

Special focus has been placed on rural populations, equipping them with knowledge to respond effectively in emergencies.

Technology and capacity building in emergency management

According to NEMA, the past year has seen the introduction of technology-driven solutions to improve response efficiency.

A centralized emergency response dashboard was launched to enable real-time monitoring of disaster situations and faster mobilisation of resources.

Additionally, staff and volunteers have undergone training in disaster management, risk reduction, and emergency response coordination.

These capacity-building efforts aim to enhance NEMA’s ability to handle future disasters effectively.

Collaboration with local and international partners

NEMA stated that it has expanded partnerships with both local and international organisations to strengthen its capacity.

The agency has worked with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to secure technical and material support for disaster response.

Through these collaborations, NEMA has gained additional resources for humanitarian aid, training programmes, and strategic disaster management planning.

The agency continues to engage with various stakeholders to improve Nigeria’s emergency preparedness.

Nigeria’s NEMA reflects on first year under Zubaida Umar: Summary

NEMA has marked one year since Zubaida Umar took office as Director General on 15 March 2024.

During this period, the agency reported improvements in disaster response, early warning systems, and inter-agency collaboration.

In 2024, NEMA responded to nationwide floods by deploying emergency teams, distributing relief materials, and coordinating evacuations with state governments and humanitarian organisations.

The agency also launched a centralized emergency response dashboard and implemented public awareness campaigns on disaster preparedness.

Additionally, NEMA stated that it strengthened partnerships with international bodies such as UNOCHA and ECOWAS to enhance its emergency response capacity.

The agency continues to focus on training staff and volunteers to improve disaster management efforts.