NEMA ​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‍​‍⁠⁠‍​‌​‌​reaffirms commitment to effective disaster management

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving humanitarian service delivery through compassion, professionalism, accountability and effective disaster management.

The NEMA Director-General, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, stated this at the 2026 Customer Service Week celebration on Thursday in Kano.

Umar was represented by the NEMA Head of Operations, Kano, Dr Nura Abdullahi.

She said that the customer service week provided an opportunity for organisations to reflect on the quality of their services, appreciate their personnel and renew their commitment to service excellence.

She said also that humanitarian service delivery required more than efficiency, stressing the need to respect the dignity of disaster-affected persons and address their needs.

‘’NEMA’s stakeholders include displaced families, vulnerable communities, humanitarian partners and citizens seeking assistance during difficult moments.

“In disaster management, the quality of our service can have consequences far beyond customer satisfaction. It can affect lives, livelihoods, recovery and public confidence,” Umar said.

The director-general noted that floods, conflicts, fires, epidemics, building collapses, windstorms and drought continued to affect communities across the country.

She said that the challenges required continuous improvement in the agency’s preparedness, response, recovery and disaster risk reduction capabilities.

Umar said NEMA had strengthened its operational presence through its zonal and operations offices.

She said the agency was collaborating with the State Emergency Management Agencies, local governments, humanitarian organisations, communities, media and other stakeholders.

‘’The agency has continued to support disaster assessments; search and rescue operations; early-warning activities; public awareness campaigns; relief interventions and emergency coordination, ‘’ she said.

Umar commended NEMA staff and stakeholders across Kano and Jigawa for their dedication to the agency’s mandate, in spite of the demanding nature of their work.

She emphasised the need to build a workplace culture to encourage staff to be responsive, respectful, innovative, solution-oriented and accountable.

“Effective disaster management cannot be achieved by NEMA acting alone. The nature and enormity of contemporary disasters require strong partnerships and coordinated action.

“A stakeholder who is properly informed can become a partner in prevention”, she said.

The director-general also commended the agency’s SERVICOM Unit for its continued efforts to promote service excellence and customer-centred service delivery.

“Together, let us continue to build a NEMA that is responsive, professional, compassionate, accountable and worthy of the confidence of the Nigerian people” Umar said.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, appreciated NEMA’s contributions to disaster management and humanitarian response.

Abdullahi-Kubarachi was represented by the Director Special Duties, SEMA, Hajiya Zahra Mansour.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with NEMA to improve disaster preparedness, emergency response and sustainable recovery for affected communities.

NAN reports that the event with the theme, “The Extra Mile”, attracted representatives of SEMA, National Orientation Agency, Nigerian Red Cross Society and other relevant stakeholders.