By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), has reviewed Kogi State’s emergency preparedness and response system, identifying existing capacities and potential gaps requiring further intervention to strengthen the state’s readiness for disasters.
The assessment, conducted by the NEMA Abuja Operations Office, followed the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPR&R) workshop held earlier in the year and focused on evaluating Kogi State’s “Ready-to-Respond” status and the effectiveness of its existing emergency management structures.
Declaring the exercise open, the Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Pharm. Zakari Abubakar, who represented the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting states in building effective, coordinated and resilient emergency management systems.
Abubakar stressed the importance of continuous collaboration among stakeholders, noting that proactive preparedness, capacity enhancement and effective coordination were critical to reducing the impact of disasters on communities.
He said regular assessments were necessary to determine the strengths and weaknesses of emergency response systems and ensure that relevant institutions were better positioned to respond when disasters occur.
The exercise brought together key emergency management stakeholders, including representatives of NEMA, the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kogi State Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Kogi State Government and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
Other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies also participated in the assessment, which provided a platform for stakeholders to examine existing response mechanisms and institutional capabilities.
Participants reviewed the state’s emergency response arrangements and identified areas requiring further strengthening to improve coordination and operational effectiveness during emergencies.
The NEMA-WBG partnership is aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and response systems through improved coordination, capacity development and evidence-based planning.
The collaboration is also expected to contribute to the development of more resilient emergency management structures capable of protecting communities and reducing the impact of disasters across Kogi State and Nigeria.
