In a renewed push to fortify Nigeria’s disaster management framework, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Assembly Committees overseeing emergency and disaster management have held a strategic retreat to chart a new course for legislative collaboration and institutional reform.
The retreat, themed “Building a Resilient Nigeria: Strengthening Legislative Collaboration for Effective Emergency Management,” brought together lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly and senior NEMA officials to strengthen policy synergy, enhance oversight, and mobilize greater legislative support for the Agency’s mandate.
Speaking at the event, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele said the engagement was designed to deepen understanding between the legislature and NEMA on key issues of disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and emergency response.
“Our aim is to harmonize NEMA’s relationship with the National Assembly, strengthen alignment on policy direction, and secure legislative backing for sustainable investment and institutional reforms necessary for national resilience,” she said.
Umar stressed that the growing frequency and complexity of disasters across the country call for a multi-sectoral approach anchored on robust legislation, adequate funding, and sustained political commitment.
Representing the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, Senator Abdul Ningi commended NEMA for facilitating a platform that fosters constructive dialogue between policymakers and implementers.
He noted that stronger coordination, better resource allocation, and timely legislative intervention were essential to safeguard citizens and national infrastructure from recurring disaster threats.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, called attention to persistent gaps in the nation’s disaster response system, including inadequate funding, obsolete equipment, and limited training for emergency responders.
“NEMA’s role goes far beyond relief distribution,” Bassey stated. “It’s about prevention, preparedness, and building the systems that can respond rapidly and effectively when disasters strike.”
He also urged for timely release of appropriated funds and innovative financing mechanisms to boost preparedness at federal, state, and community levels.
A highlight of the retreat was a panel session on “Repositioning Nigeria’s Emergency Management Framework: The Role of the National Assembly,” where participants emphasized the need to remove policy bottlenecks, strengthen legislative oversight, and expand investments in disaster-risk reduction and response infrastructure nationwide.
The retreat, held on 5th November 2025, concluded with a collective commitment to deepen institutional collaboration between NEMA and the National Assembly a partnership seen as crucial to building a safer, more resilient Nigeria.