Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), has assessed Kogi State’s emergency preparedness and response capacity as part of efforts to strengthen disaster management systems and improve the state’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
The assessment, conducted by the NEMA Abuja Operations Office, focused on the implementation of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPR&R) and followed an EPR&R workshop held earlier in the year.
The exercise was designed to assess Kogi State’s Ready-to-Respond status, evaluate existing institutional capacities and identify critical gaps requiring further intervention to improve emergency preparedness, coordination and response operations.
Declaring the assessment open, the Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Pharm. Zakari Abubakar, who represented the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to supporting states in developing effective, coordinated and resilient emergency management structures.
Abubakar stressed the importance of continuous collaboration among emergency management stakeholders, noting that proactive preparedness, capacity building and effective coordination were essential to reducing the impact of disasters on communities.
He said regular assessment of emergency response capabilities would enable relevant authorities to identify weaknesses before disasters occur and develop practical measures to strengthen preparedness.
The assessment brought together key emergency management and response stakeholders, including representatives of NEMA, the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kogi State Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Kogi State Government, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
During the exercise, participants reviewed existing emergency response mechanisms, examined institutional capabilities and identified areas requiring additional strengthening.
The stakeholders also considered the need for improved coordination and operational readiness to ensure that relevant agencies can respond more efficiently when emergencies occur.
The collaboration between NEMA and the World Bank Group forms part of broader efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness through coordinated planning, institutional capacity development and evidence-based approaches to emergency management.
The partnership is expected to support the development of stronger response systems capable of protecting lives, reducing disaster-related losses and building resilience among vulnerable communities.
The NEMA-WBG assessment therefore represents another step towards strengthening Kogi State’s emergency management architecture and ensuring that relevant institutions are better prepared to respond to disasters and other emergencies.
As climate-related, environmental and other emergency risks continue to evolve, NEMA stressed the importance of sustained preparedness, inter-agency collaboration and regular assessment of response capacity in building safer and more resilient communities across Nigeria.
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