By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened a high-level meeting of key government agencies and development partners ahead of the national launch of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative, in a renewed effort to strengthen proactive flood preparedness and disaster risk management across the country.
The high-level engagement was aimed at strengthening coordination, clarifying institutional roles and responsibilities, and agreeing on practical steps towards the successful national launch and implementation of the EW4All Initiative in Nigeria.
The NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the meeting is critical in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its disaster risk management strategy through effective inter-agency collaboration.
Umar recalled that the United Nations Secretary-General has described Early Warnings for All as a “survival agenda for humanity,” stressing the need for Nigeria to key into the initiative, which is equally regarded as a national security and development priority.
She further noted that the collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement’s adaptation agenda, and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in protecting lives, development gains, and building resilient communities.
The Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, highlighted the importance of space science and technology in disaster risk management and assured of NASRDA’s readiness to contribute its technical expertise, data, and technological capabilities towards strengthening the national early warning system.
Also, the Director General of NIHSA, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Mohammed, noted that effective early warning enables authorities and communities to take appropriate measures before disasters occur, thereby reducing their potential impact on lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
He commended NEMA for convening the meeting and affirmed NIHSA’s commitment to providing the hydrological data, forecasts, and technical support required for the successful implementation of the initiative.
The Director General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, equally
reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration towards the delivery of timely and actionable weather and climate information.
The UNDRR representative, Mr. Muliro Mashauri, commended the NEMA DG for convening the high-level EW4All Initiative to collectively address early warning and disaster risk reduction, particularly within the West African region.
Participant institutions reaffirmed their collective resolve to work together towards an effective, people-centred and inclusive early warning system that supports anticipatory action, strengthens disaster preparedness, and reduces the impact of floods and other hazards across the country.
