The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across Nigeria to deepen collaboration and synergy in order to strengthen disaster preparedness and response, particularly at the grassroots.
She made the call at the opening of the National SEMA Conference 2025, held on Thursday, October 2, at the Balmoral Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, hosted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in partnership with NEMA, brought together heads of SEMAs from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Umar stressed that emergency management must evolve beyond reactionary interventions to proactive and people-centred strategies.
> “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 daily, building safer communities, raising awareness, and ensuring preparedness,” she said.
Describing the conference as “a call to action,” the NEMA DG emphasized the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to safeguard lives and property while building resilient communities. She praised LASEMA for its innovations in decentralizing response units, leveraging technology, and mobilizing communities, saying Lagos had shown that progress in disaster management was achievable with vision and commitment.
Mrs. Umar pledged to strengthen early warning systems, enhance forecasting and data management, expand grassroots capacity-building, and ensure transparency in all interventions under her leadership.
Delivering a goodwill message, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to disaster preparedness. He applauded NEMA and LASEMA for convening the conference and pledged continued support for joint disaster risk reduction initiatives.
In recognition of her leadership and contribution to disaster risk reduction, 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, including:
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.”
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Speakers underscored the importance of proactive planning, robust legal frameworks, and sustainable financing as cornerstones of effective emergency management.
According to Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, the conference was designed to provide a structured platform for SEMAs nationwide to share best practices, strengthen institutional linkages, and chart a people-centred roadmap for disaster preparedness, response, and resilience.
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