By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has intensified efforts to strengthen national emergency response mechanisms through a two-day stakeholders’ training aimed at enhancing interagency collaboration and improving disaster management coordination across the country.
In an official signed statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, the Corps said the training, themed “Development of Disaster Management in Nigeria: Enhancing Interagency Collaboration,” brought together personnel of the NSCDC and major emergency response stakeholders to reinforce cooperation, improve communication, and establish a more unified operational framework for managing disasters nationwide.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said the increasing complexity of disasters in Nigeria requires stronger synergy among agencies responsible for public safety and emergency response.
He noted that recurring incidents such as floods, building collapses, fire outbreaks, oil spills, and insurgency-related emergencies have further underscored the need for coordinated disaster prevention, preparedness, and response mechanisms.
According to Audi, the Corps remains committed to strengthening existing partnerships and promoting seamless cooperation among relevant stakeholders in order to ensure faster and more effective emergency interventions.
“Disaster management requires collective responsibility and coordinated action,” the NSCDC boss stated. “The complexity of today’s emergencies makes interagency synergy indispensable. Our goal is to continue strengthening collaboration and building a response structure that is proactive, integrated, and efficient.”
He further explained that the Corps’ Disaster Management Department serves as a frontline coordination mechanism through continuous engagement with disaster management units across all NSCDC formations nationwide.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Crisis Management, Pedro Awili Ideba, said the training was designed to deepen institutional collaboration and improve collective emergency response capacity among agencies.
Ideba stressed that stronger coordination, information sharing, and operational understanding remain essential for achieving successful disaster response outcomes, adding that preparedness built on synergy remains the most effective strategy for mitigating emergencies.
Resource persons at the training were drawn from the Defence Headquarters, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Federal Fire Service.
The opening session also featured goodwill messages delivered on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Director General of NEMA, and the Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration in advancing disaster management efforts across the country.
