By Awwal Umar Kontagora The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Dev...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) have pledged to deepen strategic collaboration to improve disaster preparedness, response, and support for riverine communities affected by hydro-ecological challenges across Nigeria.
This renewed commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the N-HYPPADEC leadership, led by its Acting Managing Director, Dr. Jimoh Haruna Gabi, to the NEMA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
Welcoming the delegation, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed the agency’s readiness to partner with N-HYPPADEC in strengthening grassroots disaster risk reduction and community resilience, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding and erosion.
“We must prioritize prevention and preparedness—helping communities relocate to safer grounds, improve sanitation, and build local capacity,” Mrs. Umar said. “Working in silos only weakens outcomes. It’s time we align our efforts for greater impact.”
She emphasized a shift from reactive emergency interventions to a more proactive approach focused on early warning systems and sustainable risk mitigation strategies.
The NEMA boss further noted that state governments had already been asked to identify and prepare high-ground locations for possible evacuations during the 2025 flood season, as part of NEMA’s national flood preparedness plan.
“We welcome all relevant agencies to collaborate with us in delivering timely, coordinated, and impactful interventions,” she added.
In his remarks, Dr. Gabi said the visit was aimed at exploring avenues for closer collaboration with NEMA to better support dam-side communities frequently affected by flooding and erosion.
“For too long, dam-side communities have suffered from floods and erosion,” he said. “We have seen NEMA’s exceptional work and are eager to collaborate in ways that produce real, lasting impact.”
Both agencies agreed on the importance of leveraging their zonal and state-level structures to deliver targeted relief and mitigation efforts to the most affected populations.
The visit marks a significant step towards a coordinated national response framework aimed at addressing the growing environmental and humanitarian challenges facing hydro-impacted communities in Nigeria.
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