The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday, 16th July 2025, received the technical team for development of the Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP), which was on a consultative visit to the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit was part of the team’s broader national consultations aimed at collating and harnessing inputs for a plan that would strengthen Nigeria’s early warning and preparedness systems in response to food and nutrition insecurity, especially in communities impacted by conflict and climate-related shocks.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, received the team led by Dr. Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, and included representatives from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security; Budget and Economic Planning; Health and Social Welfare; and Finance.
Welcoming the team, Mrs. Zubaida Umar described the engagement as both timely and critical, given the increasing scale and complexity of food security challenges in the country. She reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to a coordinated national framework anchored in real-time data, clearly defined response triggers, and inclusive partnerships.
She said, “Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its food security landscape. We must transition from reactive to anticipatory response models. This collaboration presents a pathway toward a more structured, timely, and impactful system of intervention.”
In her remarks, Dr. Tilley-Gyado emphasized the pivotal role of NEMA in the development of the plan, citing the Agency’s nationwide operational capacity and its central role in emergency preparedness and coordination.
Dr. Tilley-Gyado said, “This is more than just an emergency response plan. It is a long-term preparedness blueprint. Once indicators are triggered, every institution must understand its role and act without delay.”
She disclosed that Nigeria has already met critical thresholds qualifying it for crisis response financing. However, accessing such support requires that there must be a well-defined and coordinated response architecture.
She explained further, “We are here to support the creation of a unified national system that ensures early warning data translates into timely and coordinated action. This is not just about mobilizing funds, it’s about building the right systems, triggers, and institutional clarity.”
Dr. Tilley-Gyado also commended NEMA’s leadership and stressed the importance of harmonizing efforts, avoiding duplication, and ensuring that resources reach the most vulnerable populations.
Discussions during the meeting focused on key priorities, including:
Integrating early warning systems into national emergency operations
Establishing standard crisis escalation protocols
Aligning Federal, State, and community-level structures for cohesive planning and implementation
16th July, 2025
