NEMA, NiMet Strengthen Partnership on Disaster Preparedness, Early Warning Systems

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has called for deeper collaboration between emergency management and weather forecasting agencies to strengthen disaster preparedness and response across Nigeria.

Mrs Umar made the call during a courtesy visit to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Charles Anosike, at the NiMet headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

The visit, which was attended by key members of the NEMA management team, focused on reinforcing the long-standing partnership between both agencies in tackling climate-related disasters and improving national emergency response mechanisms.

In her remarks, Mrs Umar congratulated NiMet on the early release of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), commending the agency for the consistency of its daily weather forecasts and the significant improvements recorded under the leadership of Prof. Anosike.

She noted that accurate and timely weather information remains critical to disaster risk reduction and effective emergency management in the country.

Mrs Umar further stressed the importance of integrating NiMet into the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), saying the move would enhance coordination, preparedness, and rapid response to disasters nationwide.

According to her, closer collaboration between both agencies would improve the nation’s ability to anticipate and respond to extreme weather events and other climate-related emergencies.

Responding, Prof. Anosike welcomed the NEMA delegation and expressed appreciation for the recognition of NiMet’s contributions to national development.

He described NiMet, NEMA, and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) as strategic partners committed to addressing the growing threat of climate-related disasters in Nigeria through collaboration and information sharing.

Prof. Anosike also emphasised the need for the development of a Nigerian Early Warning System Roadmap, which he said should be jointly designed by NiMet, NEMA, and NIHSA to strengthen inter-agency coordination, collaboration, and institutional trust.

He explained that a coordinated roadmap would provide a structured framework for disaster preparedness, early warning dissemination, and emergency response across the country.

At the end of the meeting, both agencies agreed to immediately establish a joint committee to develop and implement the proposed Early Warning System Roadmap for Nigeria.