The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened a high-level inter-agency meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration and enhancing coordinated, proactive management of floods and other climate-related hazards across Nigeria.
The meeting, held at NEMA Headquarters in Abuja, was organised ahead of the planned national launch of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative, a global effort to ensure that all people are protected by effective early warning systems.
Participants included the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar; Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida; Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed; Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju; Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike; and a representative of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mr. Muliro Mashauri.
The meeting provided a platform for the agencies and development partners to strengthen coordination, clarify institutional responsibilities, and agree on practical steps for the successful launch and implementation of the EW4All Initiative in Nigeria.
Welcoming participants, Mrs. Zubaida Umar described the engagement as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build a stronger disaster risk management system through effective inter-agency collaboration.
She recalled that the United Nations Secretary-General has described the Early Warnings for All initiative as a “survival agenda for humanity,” adding that Nigeria should treat it as both a national security and development priority.
According to her, the collaboration is in line with Nigeria’s commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement adaptation agenda, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of protecting lives, safeguarding development gains, and building resilient communities.
In his remarks, NCC boss Dr. Aminu Maida emphasised the importance of effective communication in ensuring that early warning messages reach vulnerable populations in a timely manner.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the initiative, noting that all institutions represented at the meeting have complementary roles in protecting Nigerians from disasters and other emergencies.
Dr. Matthew Adepoju of NASRDA highlighted the role of space science and technology in disaster risk management and pledged the agency’s technical expertise, data, and technological capabilities to strengthen the national early warning system.
Similarly, NIHSA Director-General Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed said effective early warning systems enable authorities and communities to take preventive actions before disasters occur, thereby reducing their impact on lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
He commended NEMA for convening the meeting and assured participants of NIHSA’s commitment to providing hydrological data, forecasts, and technical support for the initiative.
NiMet Director-General Prof. Charles Anosike also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to closer collaboration in delivering timely and actionable weather and climate information.
Speaking on behalf of UNDRR, Mr. Muliro Mashauri commended NEMA and the participating agencies for demonstrating strong leadership and commitment to the EW4All Initiative.
He described the meeting as a notable example of inter-agency cooperation and said such collaboration among heads of key institutions on early warning and disaster risk reduction was particularly encouraging within the West African region.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by all participating institutions to work together towards an effective, people-centred, and inclusive early warning system that supports anticipatory action, strengthens disaster preparedness, and reduces the impact of floods and other hazards across Nigeria.
The information was contained in a statement issued by Manzo Ezekiel, Head of NEMA Press Unit.
