The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has commended the United States Forest Service (USFS) for resuming its capacity-building support for emergency management personnel in Nigeria.
Mrs. Umar expressed her appreciation during a meeting with officials of the United States Mission in Abuja and representatives of the USFS at the NEMA Headquarters on Thursday.
The renewed collaboration will focus on enhancing the capacities of personnel from NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in key areas of emergency response, including Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) management and the Incident Command System (ICS).
According to the NEMA Director General, previous training programmes facilitated by the USFS played a significant role in strengthening the skills and competencies of emergency managers across Nigeria, contributing to improved coordination and effectiveness in disaster preparedness and response operations.
She noted that the training initiatives helped standardize emergency coordination mechanisms nationwide, enabling stakeholders to respond more efficiently to disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
Mrs. Umar emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for emergency management personnel, describing capacity building as a critical component of effective disaster risk management and emergency response.
Speaking during the meeting, the Team Lead from the United States Embassy’s Office of Humanitarian Assistance, Mr. Murphy Opadotun, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States Government to supporting disaster management efforts in Nigeria.
Representatives of the USFS also reiterated their readiness to continue partnering with NEMA and other relevant institutions to strengthen emergency coordination systems and enhance disaster response capabilities across the country.
The meeting highlighted the longstanding partnership between NEMA and the United States Government through the Forest Service, a collaboration that has contributed significantly to building institutional capacity and improving emergency management practices in Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the resumption of the training programmes would further equip emergency responders with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage disasters and protect vulnerable communities.
The renewed engagement is expected to bolster Nigeria’s preparedness and response capabilities at a time when the country continues to face a range of natural and human-induced disasters requiring coordinated and timely interventions.