By Nkechi Eze
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged local government leaders to step up disaster management efforts in their communities. Mrs. Zubaida called on members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to establish Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in their council areas. This move aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction and management at the grassroots level.
The Director-General of NEMA made the crucial call during a courtesy visit from ALGON’s National President, Hon. Bello Lawal, in Abuja. She urged local governments to establish Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), which should be headed by the Local Government Council Chairman or their representative.
These committees are expected to play a vital role in enhancing early warning systems, improving local resource mobilization, and ensuring timely interventions during emergencies in their respective council areas.
“At NEMA, we recognize the critical role local governments play in ensuring the success of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.” She said
Also adding that “We remain committed to fostering a strong partnership with ALGON to ensure our strategies are inclusive, effective, and tailored to meet the unique needs of every community”.
Hon. Bello Lawal, in his earlier remarks, highlighted that the visit was an opportunity to introduce ALGON’s new leadership to NEMA and seek collaboration in grassroots disaster management. He noted that with the granting of financial autonomy to local government councils, there is a growing need for consultation and guidance from NEMA, particularly on resource utilization for disaster management initiatives.
ALGON, the umbrella body of Nigeria’s 774 local governments, aims to leverage this partnership with NEMA to strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness and response.
This visit marks the start of a groundbreaking partnership between ALGON and NEMA, aimed at bolstering disaster management and emergency response capabilities at the local government level.
