By Adamu Yusuf
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with stakeholders involved in disaster management in Kaduna State, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation and adopting proactive measures to mitigate future disasters.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the NEMA office in Kaduna to review disaster incidents recorded in 2025, the Head of Operations of the Agency (NEMA) in charge of Katsina and Kaduna Suleiman Mohammed, said the agency has shifted its disaster management strategy from a reactive approach to a proactive one aimed at disaster risk reduction.
He explained that following seasonal climate predictions released by relevant agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NEMA convened a similar stakeholders’ meeting earlier in the year to assess possible implications and develop strategies for disaster management.
According to him, the meeting brought together critical stakeholders who deliberated on ways to collectively respond to disasters before, during and after they occur.
Suleiman Mohammed noted that the collaborative efforts of agencies including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Red Cross, Fire Service, Civil Defence and other stakeholders helped in responding effectively to several incidents recorded in the state last year, including floods, fire outbreaks and tanker accidents.
He recalled that a simulation exercise on managing tanker accidents was organised in Maraban Jos to practically demonstrate emergency response procedures.
“The exercise, which involved tanker drivers and other stakeholders, was aimed at strengthening preparedness and ensuring a coordinated response in the event of such disasters,” he said.
He added that although several flooding incidents were recorded in areas such as Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Zaria and Sanga Local Government Areas, timely response by emergency agencies helped to manage the situations and reduce the impact on affected communities.
Also speaking, the Head of Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command, Deputy Commandant Akaine King Michael, described the stakeholders’ meeting as timely and crucial for reviewing disaster management activities of the previous year.
He explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess incidents recorded in 2025, particularly tanker accidents involving vehicles transporting petroleum products, which often result in fuel spills and pose significant risks to lives and property.
Michael noted that the NSCDC has been working closely with NEMA in disaster response operations, stressing that the corps plays a key role in evacuating victims, securing affected areas and preventing members of the public from scooping fuel during tanker accidents.
In her remarks, the Head of Environment, Climate and Energy Department of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kaduna State, Rahmatu Suleiman, highlighted the agency’s role in public sensitization and community engagement on disaster prevention.
She said NOA works closely with NEMA to disseminate information to communities across the state, noting that the agency has personnel stationed in all the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State who carry out grassroots sensitization on disaster risks such as flooding.
Rahmatu Suleiman added that the agency also collaborates with the media to raise awareness, explaining that the State Director of NOA, Danjuma Makama, frequently engages media platforms to educate the public on preventive measures and ways to mitigate the impact of flooding and other disasters.
Participants at the meeting emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and the public in preventing disasters and ensuring prompt response when they occur.
They also called for continuous public awareness campaigns to discourage risky behaviours that could escalate emergencies, particularly during tanker accidents and flooding incidents.
