By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has dialogued with members of the National Assembly Committees on strategic legislative support for emergency disaster management in Nigeria.
The retreat, themed “Building a Resilient Nigeria: Strengthening Legislative Collaboration for Effective Emergency Management,” brought together lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly and senior NEMA officials to explore avenues for improved policy synergy, oversight, and resource mobilization supporting the agency’s mandate.
In her keynote address, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, stated that the interactive session was designed to enhance understanding between the legislature and the agency on critical issues of disaster preparedness, response, and risk reduction.
Zubaida Umar, represented by NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, said that the engagement was convened to “harmonize NEMA’s relationship with the National Assembly, strengthen alignment on policy direction, and secure legislative backing for sustainable investment, institutional reforms, and policy frameworks essential for national resilience.”
She emphasized that the growing complexity of disasters across the country demands a multi-sectoral approach through clear legislation, adequate funding, and sustained political will.
According to the NEMA Director General, the agency’s collaboration with the National Assembly is crucial to empowering NEMA to deliver its statutory functions effectively—particularly in proactive disaster prevention, community resilience, and early warning systems.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, also represented by a member of the committee, Senator Abdul Ningi, commended NEMA for organizing the retreat as a platform for policy dialogue and reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s emergency management architecture.
He underscored that the increasing frequency and magnitude of disasters call for robust coordination, legislative responsiveness, and budgetary commitment to protect citizens and national assets.
Furthermore, the chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, Hon. Joseph Bassey, highlighted key gaps affecting effective disaster response in Nigeria—particularly inadequate funding, shortage of modern equipment, and the need for continuous capacity-building for emergency responders.
He stressed that NEMA’s role transcends relief distribution, calling for greater budgetary prioritization and institutional reforms to enable the agency to address disasters proactively.
“Bassey said it is not only about relief. There are critical funding and equipment needs that must be met to build a professional, well-resourced system capable of protecting lives and livelihoods.”
He also advocated for the timely release of appropriated funds and the development of innovative financing mechanisms to strengthen preparedness and response at the federal, state, and community levels.
The retreat featured a panel discussion on “Repositioning Nigeria’s Emergency Management Framework: The Role of the National Assembly.
The legislators commended NEMA for convening the forum and called for stronger commitment from the National Assembly Committees to deepen institutional collaboration, enhance legislative oversight, remove legal and policy bottlenecks, and scale up investments in disaster-risk reduction and emergency-response infrastructure nationwide.
