The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has put in place robust measures to mitigate flooding and other environmental hazards through preparedness, early warning systems, community engagement, and collaboration with local governments.
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made this known during a two-day Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) Stakeholders Engagement Workshop held in Kano.
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Represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Bandele, the DG explained that the EP&R programme covers evacuation preparedness, infrastructure assessments, and collaboration with state ministries of works and housing.
She noted that the stakeholder engagement initiative is a joint effort between NEMA and the World Bank Group Nigeria. Kano, she added, was selected as one of seven pilot states for the programme due to its high vulnerability to flooding during the rainy season.
Also speaking, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank, Mr. Francis Nkoka, emphasized that strong preparations remain critical in drastically reducing the cost of disasters.
He said the World Bank, through EP&R, is working closely with NEMA and the Kano State Government to strengthen institutional capacity, ensure early warning systems trigger timely action, and integrate disaster preparedness into the state’s broader development and resilience agenda.
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“The goal is to strengthen emergency coordination, refine disaster management mechanisms, and align strategies across sectors to build resilience for the people and economy of Kano,” Nkoka stated.
Declaring the workshop open, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to policies and programmes that provide practical solutions to disaster prevention and management.
Represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, the governor listed several interventions, including the establishment of new agencies, massive road and drainage projects, procurement of life jackets, and installation of solar-powered streetlights.
The workshop witnessed a large turnout of participants from NEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other key stakeholders in disaster management.