By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) have pledged to strengthen inter-agency collaboration aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to manage disasters and public health emergencies.
This renewed partnership seeks to integrate health-related interventions into disaster management frameworks, ensuring better prevention, preparedness, and humanitarian support for vulnerable populations across the country.
The commitment was reaffirmed when the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, received her counterpart, the Director General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, and members of her management team on a courtesy visit to the NEMA Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit provided a platform for both agencies established around the same period and with similar national coordination mandates to explore avenues of synergy between disaster response and HIV/AIDS control, especially in areas such as prevention, community engagement, and humanitarian support.
In her remarks, Mrs. Umar commended NACA’s leadership and its sustained efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, describing the collaboration as timely and strategic. She emphasized that both agencies have a shared responsibility toward the welfare of Nigerians, particularly in the face of crises that often magnify public health vulnerabilities.
“We are both coordinating agencies. NACA focuses on HIV/AIDS, while NEMA coordinates disaster management. The link between health crises and disaster management is undeniable, and this partnership will help us respond better to vulnerable populations,” she said.
The NEMA DG underscored the importance of prevention and data sharing, especially within internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where the risk of disease transmission and other public health challenges remains high.
“I find your focus on prevention quite important. Investing in prevention saves lives and reduces the long-term cost of disaster response. It also aligns with this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction theme, which emphasizes the importance of investing in prevention rather than reaction,” she added.
Mrs. Umar revealed that NEMA is considering the inclusion of HIV prevention materials in its humanitarian relief kits and sensitization campaigns to enhance awareness and reduce stigma in IDP communities. She also welcomed NACA’s proposal for joint training and capacity-building initiatives, stressing that such collaboration would improve the competence and empathy of emergency responders in handling people living with HIV during crises.
“We have offices across the country and are open to hosting joint training programs that will help build capacity and strengthen our humanitarian response,” she affirmed.
Earlier, NACA’s Director General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, commended NEMA for its national leadership role in disaster management and emergency response. She said the visit was aimed at formalizing stronger cooperation between the two agencies, particularly in integrating HIV/AIDS considerations into Nigeria’s disaster management framework.
Dr. Ilori noted that an estimated two million Nigerians currently live with HIV, many of whom reside in vulnerable communities or displacement camps. She emphasized that strategic partnerships with institutions like NEMA would ensure that these populations are not excluded from essential prevention and treatment services during emergencies.
“This partnership will help us protect lives, promote preventive health education, and ensure that no one is left behind during humanitarian interventions,” she stated.
The NACA DG also underscored the importance of community-based engagement, awareness creation, and data-driven planning in curbing the spread of HIV, while calling for more cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s health resilience in disaster-prone areas.
Directors from both agencies who contributed during the meeting lauded the initiative, describing it as a landmark step toward integrated disaster and public health management. They stressed the need for structured inter-agency coordination, training exchanges, and harmonized approaches to community-level interventions.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of souvenirs and a group photograph, symbolizing the beginning of a renewed era of partnership between NEMA and NACA.
