Agency partners with the World Bank and civil society groups to strengthen Nigeria’s disaster management framework against climate, security and humanitarian threats

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on Wednesday led stakeholders in Abuja to begin a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s disaster management and emergency response frameworks aimed at addressing emerging climate, environmental and security challenges.

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The two-day stakeholders’ inception workshop, organised by NEMA in collaboration with the World Bank and civil society partners, is focused on updating the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) and the National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP), two key documents that guide disaster preparedness and emergency response across the country.

The initiative comes at a critical time as Nigeria faces increasingly complex emergencies, including severe flooding, climate-related disasters, conflict-induced displacement, disease outbreaks and rapidly evolving urban crises.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Abuja, Umar said the country’s risk landscape had changed significantly in recent years, making it necessary to reassess and strengthen existing disaster management strategies.

According to her, while the current NDMF and NDRP have served as vital operational blueprints for emergency management, lessons learned from recent disasters and evolving realities demand a thorough review.

“This review provides us with an opportunity to strengthen coordination among stakeholders, clarify roles and responsibilities, improve early warning and early action systems, address gaps in response structures, and integrate emerging risks such as climate change and insecurity,” Umar said.

She explained that the revised frameworks would place greater emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, ensuring that their needs are fully integrated into disaster planning and response mechanisms.

The NEMA Disaster Response Review is also expected to enhance collaboration among federal, state and local authorities, humanitarian organisations, development partners and community-based groups involved in emergency management.

Representing the World Bank Group, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Dr Francis Nkoka reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting Nigeria through technical expertise and financial assistance during the review process.

Nkoka noted that the growing frequency and complexity of natural and human-induced disasters require stronger institutions and more resilient preparedness systems to safeguard lives, livelihoods and infrastructure investments.

“The review of the NDMF and the NDRP represents a timely opportunity to strengthen the Nigeria Disaster Risk Management Architecture,” Nkoka said.

“The review also aligns with evolving national priorities, emerging risks, and global good practices across federal, state, and local government levels.”

A key highlight of the workshop was the call for stronger inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster preparedness and response planning.

Executive Director of the Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative, Mrs Patience Ogolo-Dixon, urged policymakers and emergency managers to ensure disability inclusion becomes a central component of the revised frameworks.

Ogolo-Dixon, who represented the Disability Rights Fund, warned that women and girls with disabilities often face disproportionate risks during emergencies and frequently encounter barriers in accessing critical information and emergency services.

“Experience has shown that when disability inclusion is not intentionally integrated into disaster preparedness, response, and resilience-building efforts, they will be left behind in policy, programming, and implementation,” she said.

The workshop attracted participants from government ministries, humanitarian agencies, academic institutions, civil society organisations and international development partners.

Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting at NEMA, Dr Godwin Tepikor, welcomed delegates and expressed confidence that the broad range of expertise represented at the event would contribute to more effective and practical outcomes.

Tepikor said the technical discussions and recommendations generated during the workshop would play a pivotal role in strengthening national resilience and improving emergency response capabilities across Nigeria.

The review follows a series of major disasters in recent years, including devastating floods that displaced thousands of people, damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted economic activities in several states.

Security-related emergencies and disease outbreaks have also placed increasing pressure on emergency response institutions.

Analysts say updating the NDMF and NDRP is a significant step towards building a more resilient and responsive disaster management system capable of addressing both current and future risks.

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With climate change intensifying weather-related disasters across Africa and security challenges continuing to evolve, stakeholders at the workshop agreed that a stronger, more coordinated and inclusive emergency management framework is essential for protecting lives and supporting sustainable development in Nigeria.