The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has reaffirmed the Agency’s operational readiness to respond promptly and effectively to emergencies during the Yuletide season and beyond.
Mrs. Umar gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja after leading NEMA staff on a fitness exercise designed to promote physical readiness, teamwork and operational preparedness among personnel. The exercise featured a five-kilometre route walk and formed part of the Agency’s routine activities as a frontline emergency coordination body.
Addressing participants at the end of the exercise, the NEMA Director General expressed satisfaction with the fitness level, discipline and commitment displayed by staff, stressing that physical and mental preparedness are essential for effective emergency response, particularly during periods of increased travel and public activities.
She disclosed that NEMA has activated its nationwide preparedness mechanisms and is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies and other emergency responders, to ensure swift response to incidents that may occur during the festive period.
Mrs. Umar also appealed to Nigerians to remain safety-conscious throughout the celebrations, urging motorists to avoid speeding, comply with traffic regulations and exercise caution on roads, waterways, at public events and within residential areas.
Reiterating the Agency’s mandate, she assured that NEMA remains on standby across its zonal, territorial and state offices to protect lives and property and to coordinate timely interventions wherever emergencies arise.
Earlier, the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman, explained that the fitness exercise is a routine initiative aimed at keeping personnel physically and mentally prepared for emergency operations at all times.
According to the Head, Press Unit of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, the exercise attracted participation from key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration in effective disaster management.
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