The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on Saturday led the agency’s staff on a fitness exercise in Abuja, declaring NEMA’s full operational readiness for a timely and effective response to emergencies during the Yuletide season and beyond.
The exercise, which involved a route walk of approximately five kilometres, aimed to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and preparedness among staff in line with the Agency’s mandate as a frontline emergency coordination agency.
Speaking at the end of the exercise, Mrs Zubaida Umar expressed satisfaction with the fitness level, discipline, and operational preparedness of NEMA personnel, noting that physical readiness is critical to effective emergency response, especially during periods of heightened human and vehicular activities.
She assured Nigerians that NEMA has activated its preparedness mechanisms nationwide and is working in close coordination with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, emergency responders, and other critical agencies, to ensure rapid response to any emergency during the festive period.
The Director General urged members of the public to remain safety-conscious throughout the celebrations, advising motorists to avoid speeding, adhere to traffic regulations, and exercise caution on the roads and waterways, at public gatherings, and in residential areas.
Mrs Zubaida Umar reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, emphasising that the Agency remains on standby across its zonal, territorial, and state operation offices to facilitate a timely response to emergencies that may arise during the Yuletide season and in the days ahead.
Also speaking, the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman, explained that the fitness exercise is a routine activity designed to keep personnel physically and mentally prepared for emergency response operations at all times.
The exercise featured the participation of key stakeholders drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), underscoring the importance of inter-agency collaboration in effective disaster response.
