The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to deepen collaboration and synergy for more effective disaster management at the grassroots and sub-national levels.
She made the call on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the opening of the National SEMA Conference held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The conference, hosted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in partnership with NEMA, brought together heads of SEMAs from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs Umar stressed the need to shift emergency management from a reactive to a proactive approach. “Emergency management can no longer be reactive—it must be predictive, preventive, and participatory. Our citizens should not encounter us only when disaster strikes; they should see us every day, building safer communities, raising awareness, and ensuring preparedness,” she said.
Describing the conference as “a call to action,” the NEMA DG highlighted the shared responsibility of stakeholders in protecting lives, safeguarding property, and building resilient communities. She also commended LASEMA for decentralising response units, deploying technology, and engaging communities, noting that Lagos has set an example of what is achievable with vision and commitment.
Umar pledged NEMA’s commitment to strengthening early warning systems, improving data and forecasting, expanding grassroots capacity-building, and ensuring transparency and accountability in all interventions.
In a goodwill message, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to disaster preparedness and applauded NEMA and LASEMA for hosting the conference in Lagos.
In recognition of her leadership in disaster risk reduction, Mrs. Umar was decorated as an Honorary Member of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) by its President, Dr. Idris Abbas.
The conference also featured technical presentations by experts, including Dr. Adeleke Olusegun Pitan on “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level,” Mr. Ade Ipaye on “Legal, Policy and Revenue Reforms as Enablers of Emergency Management,” and Mr. Bamgbose Martin on “Emergency Services: A Clarion Call.”
According to LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, the gathering provided a structured platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies that will strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience across the country.
