The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja operations office, in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), has conducted an assessment of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPR&R) implementation in Kogi State, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster management systems across the country.
The assessment followed the EPR&R workshop held earlier in the year and was designed to evaluate the state’s Ready-to-Respond status, identify existing capacities, and highlight potential gaps that may require intervention to improve emergency preparedness and response operations.
Declaring the exercise open, NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, conveyed the Agency’s commitment to supporting states in building effective, coordinated, and resilient emergency management structures.
Mrs. Umar, who was represented by Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Pharmacist Zakari Abubakar, stressed the need for continuous collaboration among stakeholders, noting that a proactive approach to preparedness, capacity enhancement, and coordination remains critical to reducing the impact of disasters on communities.
The assessment brought together key emergency management stakeholders, including representatives of NEMA, the Nigerian Navy, the 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 (MDAs).
During the exercise, stakeholders reviewed existing response mechanisms, assessed institutional capabilities, and identified areas requiring further strengthening to enhance operational effectiveness during emergencies.
The NEMA-WBG partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving disaster preparedness, strengthening coordination frameworks, and supporting evidence-based planning to build safer and more resilient communities across Nigeria.