The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deepened collaboration with the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) to explore the use of modern technology in strengthening border security, disaster early-warning systems, and response capacity across Nigeria’s frontier communities.
The renewed engagement aims to harness cutting-edge technology, capacity building, and multi-agency coordination to improve situational awareness, rapid response, and community resilience in border regions that are often vulnerable to smuggling, insecurity, and cross-border public health risks.
The partnership was discussed during a meeting between NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and the Executive Secretary of BCDA, Dr. George Alabo Kelly, held at NEMA Headquarters in Abuja. Also present was a delegation from Beijing Global Safety Technology Company Ltd (G-Safety), a China-based technology firm that accompanied the BCDA team.
In her remarks, Mrs. Zubaida Umar welcomed the initiative, describing border communities as “critically important” and highlighting the strategic link between border security, development, and disaster resilience.
She affirmed NEMA’s readiness to explore pilot projects that integrate operational expertise with advanced technology to enhance early warning, data sharing, and first-responder capacity at both state and local levels.
The NEMA DG emphasized the importance of sub-national engagement in disaster management, calling for stronger empowerment of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and community-level responders.
On his part, Dr. George Alabo Kelly noted that BCDA’s mandate covers Nigeria’s frontier communities, which serve as the nation’s first line of defence. He called for integrated interventions that blend infrastructure development, intelligence, and social initiatives to boost resilience in these areas.
The Managing Director of G-Safety, Dr Maolei Zhang shared the company’s global experience in developing national emergency management systems, including control-room solutions, sensor networks, forecasting tools, and capacity-building academies. They also invited NEMA to participate in study visits and knowledge exchanges to adapt such technologies to Nigeria’s unique context.
16th October, 2025
