The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has convened a high-level stakeholders’ engagement workshop on Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) in Maiduguri.
The workshop aimed to enhance disaster management capacity across Borno State’s 27 local government areas.
Representing NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, said the engagement was designed to strengthen institutional frameworks for disaster preparedness, develop a robust database of trained volunteers, and institutionalize Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs).
He explained that the forum would also improve coordination, data management, and early warning capabilities at both state and local levels.
In her message, the Director-General reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to building stronger partnerships with development institutions and state governments to promote a culture of preparedness and proactive response to emergencies nationwide.
A representative of the World Bank underscored the need to build a resilient and adaptive Borno State, noting the state’s high vulnerability to both natural and human-induced disasters such as floods, droughts, and public health emergencies.
According to the representative, the World Bank’s support under the EP&R project focuses on strengthening early warning systems, improving emergency coordination, and introducing innovative disaster risk financing mechanisms.
Officials noted that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and global frameworks for sustainable disaster management.
As part of the activities, the NEMA delegation paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Bukar Tijjani.
During the visit, Dr. Onimode expressed appreciation to the state government for its hospitality and continued support for NEMA’s operations. In his response, the SSG commended NEMA and its partners for their sustained interventions and pledged the state’s continued collaboration in strengthening disaster preparedness and response.
The stakeholders’ workshop reaffirmed the shared commitment of NEMA, the World Bank, and the Borno State Government to institutionalizing local preparedness mechanisms that ensure timely, coordinated, and effective disaster response across the state.
