NEMA Oyo Police collaboration deepens as both agencies strengthen ties on disaster management with a proposed new Police unit

NEMA Oyo Police collaboration efforts took a major step forward on Tuesday as the South-West Zonal Directorate of the National Emergency Management Agency paid a familiarisation visit to the Oyo State Police Command.

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The visit, held at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, aimed to reinforce inter-agency coordination in disaster preparedness and response.

It was led by Mr Akiode Saheed, Zonal Director of NEMA, who was received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Femi Haruna, and senior officers of the Command.

Mr Saheed, conveying the greetings of NEMA Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, emphasised the strategic direction of the agency and its renewed drive for synergy.

“We are here to update the Command on NEMA’s strategic plans under our current leadership and to reinforce the long-standing institutional collaboration between our agencies,” he said.

Highlighting the Nigeria Police Force’s integral role in emergency response, Saheed described the relationship between both agencies as “age-long and symbiotic.”

He further proposed the establishment of a Disaster Management Unit within the Oyo State Police Command, modelled after the Nigerian military’s Disaster Response Units (DRUs). The proposed unit, he said, would enhance response efficiency and inter-agency coordination in times of crisis.

In response, Commissioner Haruna welcomed the delegation warmly and approved the creation of the Disaster Management Unit, pledging the Command’s full support.

“We are grateful for this visit and assure NEMA of the Command’s unwavering commitment to strengthening synergy and collaboration,” he affirmed.

The **NEMA Oyo Police collaboration marks a proactive step towards strengthening local emergency infrastructure and disaster response capabilities in South-West Nigeria.

The agency’s recent frontline role in rescuing victims from the collapsed building at Alagomeji, Lagos, further underscores its operational importance.

In that incident, NEMA successfully aided in the rescue of two trapped workers, while four others were confirmed dead and six rescued overall.

The growing collaboration between security and emergency agencies is being viewed as essential to building a more resilient national response system.

Experts say such partnerships, along with structural reforms and preventive planning, can significantly reduce loss of life and property during disasters.

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As Nigeria continues to face flooding, building collapses, and other emergencies, the call for unified emergency protocols has never been more critical.