The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to improve disaster management and humanitarian response across the country.
Umar made the appeal at a sensitization lecture organized by the agency in Sokoto as part of activities marking the 2025 Customer Service Week, themed “Mission Possible.”
Represented by the NEMA Zonal Head, Mr. Aliyu Kafindangi, the Director-General said the heart of any successful agency lies in its commitment to delivering exceptional and satisfactory services to its customers and partners.
“In our case, those we serve are often the most vulnerable members of society—victims of emergencies and disasters,” she said.
“Our customers, whether they are victims of natural disasters, displaced persons, or communities impacted by crises, rely on us for timely, efficient, and compassionate assistance.”
Umar noted that the quality of service delivered by emergency responders could often mean the difference between life and death, adding that millions of Nigerians depend on NEMA’s efficiency, empathy, and professionalism.
“NEMA’s responsibilities go beyond disaster response,” she said. “We coordinate humanitarian relief, manage internally displaced persons’ camps, and strengthen community resilience. Our success is measured by the trust and satisfaction of the people we serve.”
The NEMA boss explained that the agency’s mandate demands not only coordination of emergency response but also excellence, accountability, and integrity in all its processes.
“Quality assurance ensures that every relief effort reaches the right people, at the right time, with the right resources, while compliance strengthens public trust and aligns our interventions with national policies and international standards,” she added.
Umar described the Customer Service Week as a global initiative that recognizes the essential role of service delivery in organizations and the people behind it.
“Whether you are on the frontline of disaster response, logistics, planning, or administration, your work is an integral part of emergency management,” she said. “Through your efforts, we are able to coordinate swift and effective responses to emergencies across the country.”
She commended NEMA staff for their resilience, professionalism, and dedication, describing them as a reflection of the agency’s core values of service, integrity, and humanity.
In his remarks, the representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Benjamin Tijjani, said service to humanity is a calling that requires coordination, compassion, and preparedness.
“Our collective mission is to make the impossible possible and ensure that hope endures even in the most challenging circumstances,” he said.
Stakeholders at the event pledged continued collaboration to build a strong service culture where every Nigerian, regardless of circumstance, feels heard, valued, and supported.
The event also featured a display of disaster response and safety equipment, interactive presentations, and a question-and-answer session.
Participants included officials from the NSCDC, Police, Federal and State Fire Services, Red Cross Society, Emergency Nurses Association of Nigeria, and representatives of the Sokoto State Government, among others.
