By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has called on State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across the country to deepen synergy and collaboration in order to strengthen disaster preparedness and response at the grassroots level.
She made the appeal at the opening of the National SEMA Conference 2025, which took place on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Balmoral Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. The conference, jointly convened by NEMA and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), brought together the leadership of SEMAs from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside key stakeholders in disaster risk reduction.
In her address, Mrs. Umar underscored the need for a paradigm shift from reactive measures to proactive planning in the nation’s approach to disaster management. “Emergency management can no longer be reactive, it must be predictive, preventive, and participatory. Our citizens should not encounter us only when disaster strikes; they should see us every day, building safer communities, raising awareness, and ensuring preparedness,” she said.
Describing the conference as “a call to action,” the NEMA DG stressed that the collective responsibility of all agencies and stakeholders is to protect lives, safeguard property, and build resilient communities. She commended LASEMA for what she described as its pioneering role in decentralizing response units, deploying technology, and mobilizing local communities for effective disaster management. According to her, Lagos has demonstrated that with vision and commitment, significant progress can be made in safeguarding lives and property.
Mrs. Umar also reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment under her leadership to strengthening early warning systems, enhancing data, forecasting and information management, and expanding grassroots capacity-building. She further pledged to uphold transparency and accountability in all emergency interventions.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, delivered a goodwill message in which he applauded NEMA and LASEMA for bringing the conference to Lagos. He reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to disaster preparedness and risk reduction, promising sustained support for collaborative initiatives that will help mitigate disasters and emergencies.
In recognition of her contributions and leadership in advancing disaster risk reduction in Nigeria, Mrs. Zubaida Umar was decorated as an Honorary Member of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) by its President, Dr. Idris Abbas.
The first day of the conference featured a series of technical presentations by experts, including Dr. Adeleke Olusegun Pitan, who spoke on “From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level”; Mr. Ade Ipaye, who presented on “Legal, Policy and Revenue Reforms as Enablers of Emergency Management”; and Mr. Bamgbose Martin, who delivered a paper titled “Emergency Services: A Clarion Call.” Their submissions emphasized the importance of proactive planning, stronger legal frameworks, and sustainable financing as pillars of effective emergency management in Nigeria.
According to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, the conference was deliberately designed to provide a structured platform for SEMAs nationwide to share best practices, foster institutional linkages, and develop a people-centered roadmap for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.
