Earlier today, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigeria, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Professor Ma’aji reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to driving strategic partnerships with key federal institutions in advancing the development objectives of the North-West region. He emphasized that as a newly established regional development agency, the NWDC is poised to collaborate closely with NEMA to strengthen disaster risk reduction, enhance emergency response, and promote sustainable development across the North-West geopolitical zone.
He highlighted that the region continues to face challenges such as flooding, drought, insecurity, and displacement, noting that these issues require a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach. He shared the Commission’s vision to work closely with NEMA in developing joint frameworks for data collection, humanitarian intervention, and community-based disaster preparedness. Prof. Ma’aji also expressed optimism that this partnership would eliminate duplication of efforts and ensure more efficient and impactful outcomes for vulnerable communities.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar commended the NWDC for its proactive approach and reaffirmed NEMA’s readiness to collaborate with the Commission. She briefed the delegation on NEMA’s zonal operational offices in Kaduna, Kano, and Sokoto, which coordinate disaster preparedness and response efforts across the region. She also underscored the Agency’s extensive partnerships with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and Local Emergency Management Committees all geared toward bringing emergency response closer to the grassroots.
The Director General thereafter conducted the NWDC delegation on a guided tour of NEMA’s Operations Centre, where she provided insights into the Agency’s coordination framework with sister organizations. She explained that the Centre leverages real-time monitoring systems to oversee emergency activities nationwide, ensuring data-driven decision-making and timely response operations.
Both leaders reaffirmed their joint commitment to coordinated interventions, capacity building, and post-disaster recovery efforts ensuring that communities across the North-West are better prepared, supported, and empowered to thrive in the face of adversity.
