Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, is participating in a high-level regional meeting of disaster management leaders across West Africa aimed at addressing shared risks and improving coordinated response strategies.
The meeting, taking place in Abidjan, is the 17th Consultation of the Regional Committee of Heads of Disaster Management and Civil Protection Agencies in West Africa (GECEAO), convened by the Economic Community of West African States in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and other international partners.
A key focus of the meeting is the review of recent seasonal forecasts, particularly the PRESA-GG outlook released by AGRHYMET Regional Centre, which predicts above-average rainfall across several river basins and coastal areas in the region.
The forecast raises concerns over a heightened risk of widespread flooding and related hazards during the 2026 rainy season.
The consultation is expected to strengthen regional coordination, enhance data and information sharing, and improve the capacity of member states to adopt proactive, risk-informed approaches to disaster management.
It also seeks to align national frameworks with regional initiatives under ECOWAS, particularly through its Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs.
Other participating partners include United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Development Programme, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, World Meteorological Organization, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, among others.
The meeting underscores growing regional efforts to build resilience and improve preparedness in the face of climate-related disasters across West Africa.
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