The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has held a strategic retreat with members of the National Assembly Committees overseeing emergency and disaster management, aimed at deepening legislative collaboration and strengthening institutional capacity for more effective disaster management across Nigeria.
Themed “Building a Resilient Nigeria: Strengthening Legislative Collaboration for Effective Emergency Management,” the retreat brought together lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly and senior NEMA officials to explore ways of improving policy synergy, oversight functions, and resource mobilization in support of the Agency’s mandate.
In her keynote address, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, said the engagement was designed to foster mutual understanding between the legislature and NEMA on issues of disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction.
According to her, the growing complexity of disasters in the country calls for a multi-sectoral approach driven by robust legislation, adequate funding, and sustained political will.
“This retreat provides a platform to harmonize NEMA’s relationship with the National Assembly, strengthen policy alignment, and secure legislative support for sustainable investment and institutional reforms,” Mrs. Umar stated.
She emphasized that effective collaboration with the National Assembly remains critical to empowering NEMA to fulfil its statutory responsibilities—particularly in disaster prevention, early warning, and community resilience.
Representing the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, Senator Abdul Ningi commended NEMA for organizing the dialogue, describing it as timely and strategic. He reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s emergency management framework through improved oversight and budgetary support.
“The increasing frequency and impact of disasters demand robust coordination, legislative responsiveness, and financial commitment to safeguard citizens and national assets,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, identified inadequate funding, shortage of modern equipment, and limited capacity among first responders as key challenges affecting effective disaster response.
He noted that NEMA’s mandate goes beyond relief distribution, urging greater budgetary prioritization and institutional reforms to enable the Agency to operate proactively.
“NEMA is not only about relief. There are critical funding and equipment needs that must be addressed to build a professional, well-resourced system capable of protecting lives and livelihoods,” Hon. Bassey stressed.
He further called for timely release of appropriated funds and the adoption of innovative financing models to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms at federal, state, and community levels.
The retreat also featured a panel session titled “Repositioning Nigeria’s Emergency Management Framework: The Role of the National Assembly,” where participants commended NEMA’s initiative and called for deeper institutional collaboration, enhanced legislative oversight, and increased investment in disaster-risk reduction and emergency-response infrastructure nationwide.
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