By Fatima Saka
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) and National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) in a decisive move to address escalating disaster risks across the country.
Declaring the inception workshop open in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the review had become imperative due to the rapidly evolving disaster risk landscape, marked by severe flooding, climate-related hazards, conflict-induced displacement, disease outbreaks, urban emergencies, and transportation accidents.
She noted that while the existing frameworks have provided valuable guidance over the years, emerging threats and lessons from recent emergencies have made it necessary to reassess and update the documents to ensure they remain relevant, practical, and effective.
According to her, the review process presents a critical opportunity to strengthen coordination among stakeholders, enhance early warning and response systems, address structural gaps, and integrate emerging risks such as climate change and insecurity into national planning.
Mrs. Umar also emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating that the revised frameworks would ensure that vulnerable groups are adequately considered in disaster preparedness and response strategies.
She urged participants at the workshop to leverage their expertise and field experience to develop actionable and implementable frameworks that will significantly improve disaster management outcomes in Nigeria.
The NEMA boss expressed confidence that the exercise would produce robust, inclusive, and forward-looking strategies capable of enhancing disaster risk reduction and emergency response for years to come. She also appreciated the support of development partners, including the World Bank Group and the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative, alongside the Disabilities Rights Fund.
Speaking at the event, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank Group, Dr. Francis Nkoka, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting the review through sustained technical and financial assistance.
He described the initiative as a reflection of the strong partnership between NEMA and the World Bank in building a more resilient Nigeria.
Dr. Nkoka commended NEMA’s leadership for driving the process and reiterated the Bank’s readiness to support efforts aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response mechanisms nationwide.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), Mrs. Patience Obolo Dickson, praised NEMA for adopting an inclusive and consultative approach. She highlighted the disproportionate impact of disasters on women, children, and persons with disabilities, expressing optimism that the review would mainstream disability inclusion across all aspects of disaster management.
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Earlier, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Godwin Tepikor, described the workshop as the starting point of a broader process that will involve zonal consultations and stakeholder engagements across the country.
He explained that contributions from participants would form the foundation for the development of more responsive, adaptive, and effective disaster management frameworks aligned with global best practices.
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