The Head of the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (EU-ECHO) in Nigeria, Mr. Alexandre Castellano today paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Castellano, accompanied by the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Zizzimos Vergos, and EU-ECHO Programme Officer Ms. Comfort Agwu, said the visit was aimed at strengthening EU-ECHO’s collaboration with NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in providing humanitarian support to individuals affected by disasters across Nigeria.
During the visit, Mr. Castellano praised the Federal Government for establishing NEMA as the coordinating agency for disaster management, emphasizing that EU-ECHO shares similar mandates within the European Union’s civil protection framework. He said that the EU-ECHO has been actively engaged in humanitarian efforts, working closely with Civil Protection Departments of various EU member states for international disaster response.
In her response, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed gratitude for the visit and highlighted NEMA’s ongoing efforts in managing the 2024 flood disaster. She explained that the initial flood disasters that occurred in the northern parts of country had gradually moved southwards, as water from major rivers flow to the states where NEMA’s rescue teams have been activated and presently providing support.
7th November, 2024
