The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with the World Bank, has launched a pilot Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) programme in Kano State to tackle flooding and other environmental hazards.
Speaking at a two-day stakeholders’ engagement workshop in Kano, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar—represented by Dr. Onimode Bandele, Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting—said the programme focuses on preparedness, early warning systems, community engagement, and collaboration with local governments.
Kano was selected among seven pilot states due to its high vulnerability to seasonal flooding. The project seeks to establish disaster management structures in every local government, build volunteer databases, and promote Local Emergency Management Committees.
“NEMA is working to mitigate disasters through timely alerts, community engagement for evacuation, and infrastructure assessments with the Ministry of Works and Housing,” Umar said.
World Bank Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Mr. Francis Nkoka, stressed that better preparedness would drastically reduce disaster costs. He said the EPR aims to strengthen emergency coordination, institutional capacity, and resilience across Kano’s economy.
Governor Abba Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Kibiya, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to disaster prevention, citing ongoing road and drainage projects, procurement of life jackets, and installation of solar streetlights.
The workshop drew participants from NEMA, Kano SEMA, and other key disaster management stakeholders.
