The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja Operations Office has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Kogi State Government to enhance flood preparedness, disaster risk reduction, and emergency response coordination ahead of the peak of the rainy season.
According to an official statement by NEMA Abuja Operations Office Press Unit, the Head of the Abuja Operations Office, Pharm. Zakari Abubakar, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Comrade Salifu Joel Oyibo, at the Government House in Lokoja.
The statement said the visit provided an opportunity for both parties to discuss strategies aimed at improving disaster preparedness, emergency response coordination, and flood risk reduction across the state, particularly in view of forecasts indicating an increased likelihood of flooding during the current rainy season.
Speaking during the meeting, Pharm. Abubakar reaffirmed NEMA’s determination to work closely with the Kogi State Government and other critical stakeholders to strengthen preparedness, enhance early warning dissemination, and promote community-based disaster risk reduction.
He stressed that effective disaster management requires sustained collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, humanitarian organisations, traditional institutions, the media, and local communities.
The NEMA official also emphasised the importance of proactive measures, including sustained public sensitisation, timely dissemination of early warning information, pre-positioning of emergency response resources, and coordinated evacuation planning for vulnerable communities. He reiterated the Agency’s commitment to supporting the Kogi State Government in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure against the impact of flooding.
Responding, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Salifu Joel Oyibo, commended NEMA under the leadership of Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar for its unwavering commitment to disaster risk management and its continued support to Kogi State through flood preparedness campaigns, emergency response interventions, and capacity-building initiatives.
Oyibo described NEMA as a dependable partner in the state’s efforts to build resilience against disasters and pledged the Kogi State Government’s continued cooperation in implementing flood mitigation measures, strengthening emergency response mechanisms, and ensuring that communities identified as vulnerable in the Seasonal Climate Prediction receive timely information and necessary assistance.
