By Nkechi Eze
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has declared the Agency’s full operational readiness to respond promptly and effectively to emergencies during the Yuletide season and beyond, assuring Nigerians of NEMA’s preparedness to protect lives and property nationwide.
Mrs Umar gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja while leading staff of the Agency on a fitness exercise designed to promote physical readiness, teamwork, and operational efficiency among personnel of the nation’s foremost emergency coordination body.
The exercise, which featured a route walk of about five kilometres, formed part of NEMA’s routine preparedness activities and underscored the importance of physical fitness to effective emergency response, particularly during festive periods characterised by increased human and vehicular movement.
Disclosing details of the exercise in an official signed statement, the NEMA Press Unit, through Manzo Ezekiel, noted that the Director-General expressed satisfaction with the fitness level, discipline, and operational alertness displayed by staff during the exercise.
Speaking at the end of the activity, Mrs Umar stressed that physical and mental readiness remain critical to NEMA’s mandate, especially at a time when the risks of road crashes, fire outbreaks, crowd-related incidents, and other emergencies tend to rise.
She assured Nigerians that NEMA has activated its preparedness mechanisms across the country and is working closely with relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, emergency responders, and other critical institutions, to ensure rapid and coordinated response to any emergency that may occur during the festive period.
“We are fully prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies during the Yuletide season and beyond,” the NEMA boss said, reaffirming the Agency’s resolve to remain proactive and responsive in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Mrs Umar also appealed to members of the public to remain safety-conscious throughout the celebrations, urging motorists to avoid speeding, obey traffic regulations, and exercise caution on roads and waterways. She further advised Nigerians to remain vigilant at public gatherings and within residential areas to reduce the risk of preventable incidents.
Reiterating NEMA’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, she emphasised that the Agency remains on standby across its zonal, territorial, and state operations offices nationwide to ensure timely intervention in the event of any emergency during the Yuletide season and the days ahead.
Also speaking, the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman, explained that the fitness exercise is a routine activity aimed at keeping personnel physically and mentally prepared for emergency response operations at all times.
The exercise witnessed the participation of key stakeholders drawn from 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 and emergency response.
The event reinforced NEMA’s emphasis on preparedness, coordination, and professionalism as it positions itself to meet the emergency response demands of the Yuletide season and beyond.
