The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has called on State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across the country to strengthen synergy and collaboration for more efficient disaster management at the sub-national and grassroots levels.
She made the call at the opening of the National SEMA Conference 2025, held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Balmoral Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The conference, hosted by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in collaboration with NEMA, brought together heads of SEMAs from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar emphasized that emergency management must go beyond reactionary measures. She said “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 every day, building safer communities, raising awareness, and ensuring preparedness.”
The NEMA DG described the gathering as “a call to action” rather than just another conference, noting that the shared responsibility of all stakeholders is to protect lives, safeguard property, and build resilient communities.
She commended LASEMA for its pioneering role in decentralizing response units, deploying technology, and mobilizing communities. According to her, Lagos has shown that with vision and commitment, significant progress can be made in disaster management.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar further pledged NEMA’s commitment under her leadership to work towards strengthening of early warning systems, improved data, forecasting, and information management. She also affirmed commitment to expansion of grassroots capacity-building and upholding transparency and accountability in all interventions.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to disaster preparedness and management. He applauded NEMA and LASEMA for convening the conference in Lagos and pledged continued support for collaborative disaster risk reduction initiatives.
In recognition of her leadership and commitment to disaster risk reduction in Nigeria, Mrs. Zubaida Umar was decorated as an Honorary Member of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) by the President Dr Idris Abbas.
The first day of the conference featured insightful presentations by experts:
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.”
Their contributions highlighted the need for proactive planning, strong legal frameworks, and sustainable financing for effective emergency management.
The conference provided a platform for SEMAs nationwide to share best practices, build stronger institutional linkages, and chart a people-centred roadmap for disaster preparedness and response.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, explained that the conference was convened to create a structured space for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies that will strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience across the country.
2nd October, 2025
