The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the development of a National Policy on Relief and Rehabilitation Interventions aimed at standardising the delivery of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation support to persons affected by disasters across Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day national stakeholders’ consultative workshop in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the proposed policy had become necessary to establish a coordinated and clearly defined framework for relief and rehabilitation interventions nationwide.
She explained that the policy would provide a comprehensive framework for the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of relief and rehabilitation activities, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of disaster response and recovery efforts across the country.
Mrs. Umar expressed appreciation to the World Bank for supporting the policy development process, stressing that the contributions of stakeholders would be critical to improving operational efficiency and ensuring that humanitarian assistance reaches disaster-affected persons promptly without duplication or gaps in service delivery.
The World Bank’s Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Mr. Francis Nkoka, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting the initiative, describing the policy development as a major step towards strengthening disaster risk management and building a more resilient Nigeria. He also commended the Director-General of NEMA for providing the leadership that has driven the initiative.
Also speaking, the Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. David Stevenson, who was represented by the WFP Programme Officer, Mr. Akeem Ajibola, lauded NEMA for initiating the policy development process. He noted that the proposed framework would significantly enhance the coordination and delivery of relief and rehabilitation interventions across the country.
Earlier, NEMA’s Acting Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Abbani Imam Garki, said the consultative workshop was designed to obtain critical contributions from key stakeholders towards producing a practical, inclusive and implementable National Policy on Relief and Rehabilitation Interventions.
The workshop brought together representatives of relevant government institutions, development partners, humanitarian organisations and other stakeholders to contribute to the formulation of a policy expected to strengthen disaster response, improve coordination and enhance the welfare of disaster-affected communities nationwide.
