Lagos, October 2, 2025 – The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has called on states across Nigeria to move beyond reactive disaster response and embrace proactive strategies that build resilience, save lives, and reduce risks at the grassroots.
Umar made the call in Lagos at the inaugural National States Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Conference 2025, hosted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with NEMA.
Themed “Strengthening Sub-National Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria,” the gathering brought together emergency managers, policymakers, responders, and development partners from across the country.
In her remarks, Umar underscored that emergency management in Nigeria must evolve from crisis-driven intervention to predictive, preventive, and participatory action.
“This gathering is not just another conference—it is a call to action. We bear a shared duty: to protect lives, safeguard property, and strengthen the resilience of our communities in the face of disasters and emergencies,” she said.
Highlighting Lagos as a model, Umar praised LASEMA’s pioneering innovations, from decentralised response units to technology-driven command systems, while stressing that every state must adapt similar approaches tailored to their vulnerabilities.
“Emergency management can no longer be reactive. It must be predictive, preventive, and participatory. Our citizens should not see us only when disaster strikes—they should see us building safer communities every day,” she added.
States Must Take Responsibility
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the conference, Mrs. Umar emphasized that states must adopt risk reduction as a guiding principle.
“We are encouraging State Emergency Management Agencies to take responsibility for disaster risk reduction.
The whole world has shifted from being reactive to being proactive, and that is the purpose of this gathering—to ensure we are all on the same page,” she said.
She cited recurring boat mishaps as an example, urging states to implement practical measures such as regulating boat operators and enforcing the use of life jackets as life-saving interventions.
NEMA’s Commitment
Under her leadership, NEMA is prioritizing:
“Strengthened early warning systems
“Enhanced data, forecasting, and information management
“Grassroots capacity building for responders and volunteers
“Transparency and accountability in interventions
Umar also welcomed the establishment of the LASEMA Institute of Emergency and Disaster Management, describing it as a bold step in capacity development.
“We already have about six departments in universities across the geopolitical zones. The LASEMA Institute is a welcome idea, and we will build on it as partners, just like we do with every other emergency management agency,” she affirmed.
A Call to Action
Umar concluded by stressing that the true test of a nation is not the inevitability of disasters but its readiness and resilience.
“Together, we can build a Nigeria that is not only able to respond to emergencies but is also prepared, resilient, and confident in the face of any challenge,” she said.
The National SEMA Conference 2025 continues in Lagos until October 4, with technical workshops, simulation exercises, and strategy sessions designed to strengthen sub-national emergency preparedness.
