The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across Nigeria to deepen synergy and collaboration for more efficient disaster management at the sub-national and grassroots levels.
She made the call on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the opening of the National SEMA Conference 2025 held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The meeting, hosted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with NEMA, brought together heads of SEMAs from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Umar stressed that emergency management must evolve beyond reactionary measures.
According to her, “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.”
Describing the gathering as “a call to action” rather than just another conference, the NEMA boss said the shared responsibility of all stakeholders remains to protect lives, safeguard property, and build resilient communities.
She commended LASEMA for pioneering initiatives in decentralizing response units, deploying technology, and mobilizing communities, noting that “Lagos has shown that with vision and commitment, significant progress can be made in disaster management.”
Mrs. Umar further pledged that under her leadership, NEMA will strengthen early warning systems, improve data, forecasting and information management, expand grassroots capacity-building, and uphold transparency and accountability in all interventions.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to disaster preparedness and management. He applauded NEMA and LASEMA for convening the conference in Lagos and pledged continued support for collaborative disaster risk reduction initiatives.
In recognition of her leadership and commitment to disaster risk reduction in Nigeria, Mrs. Umar was decorated as an Honorary Member of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) by its President, Dr. Idris Abbas.
The first day of the conference featured expert presentations:
”Dr. Adeleke Olusegun Pitan: “From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level.”
”Mr. Ade Ipaye: “Legal, Policy and Revenue Reforms as Enablers of Emergency Management.”
”Mr. Bamgbose Martin: “Emergency Services: A Clarion Call.”
The presentations underscored the importance of proactive planning, strong legal frameworks, and sustainable financing in strengthening emergency management across the country.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, explained that the conference was convened to provide a structured space for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies that will enhance preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience nationwide.
NEMA DG Calls for Stronger Synergy Among SEMAs
