The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership aimed at improving disaster response, mitigating ecological risks, and supporting vulnerable riverine communities.
This renewed collaboration was formalized during a courtesy visit by N-HYPPADEC’s Acting Managing Director, Dr. Jimoh Haruna Gabi, and his team to NEMA Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the need to shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive disaster risk reduction and community resilience-building.
“We must prioritize prevention and preparedness—helping at-risk communities relocate to safer grounds, improving sanitation, and strengthening local capacities,” she said. “Collaboration among agencies is key to delivering coordinated and impactful interventions.”
Mrs. Umar assured NEMA’s readiness to provide technical support, early warning systems, and strategic coordination to aid communities vulnerable to hydro-related ecological threats. She also noted that state governments have been directed to designate high-ground safe zones in preparation for the 2025 flood season.
In his remarks, Dr. Gabi praised NEMA’s efforts in emergency management and expressed eagerness to deepen collaboration. “Dam-side communities have long faced the brunt of flooding and erosion. We are committed to working closely with NEMA to deliver lasting solutions,” he said.
Both agencies agreed on the importance of leveraging their zonal and state-level structures to strengthen grassroots response and ensure that interventions reach those most in need.
