Abuja, October 16, 2025 โ The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has expressed its readiness to partner with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to enhance disaster preparedness, response, and resilience across the South-South region.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Managing Director of the SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio commended NEMA for its consistent and life-saving efforts in disaster management and humanitarian response nationwide.
โYour work has saved lives, restored hope, and brought stability to countless communities in times of crisis,โ the SSDC boss stated. โFor us at the South-South Development Commission, this meeting is both timely and strategic, as our region continues to grapple with recurrent flooding, coastal erosion, oil spills, and communal displacements.โ
She emphasized that such disasters have far-reaching socio-economic impacts, disrupting livelihoods, destroying farmlands, and impeding sustainable development in the region.
Highlighting the importance of institutional collaboration, the SSDC Managing Director noted that no meaningful development can thrive in an environment of constant emergency, and therefore called for stronger synergy between both agencies in key areas such as:
โข Flood and environmental management through early warning systems and community preparedness;
โข Joint emergency response to oil spills and related environmental crises;
โข Support for internally displaced persons through improved shelter and livelihood restoration;
โข Capacity building for local and state emergency agencies; and
โข Data sharing and disaster mapping for improved coordination and planning.
To formalize the partnership, she proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SSDC and NEMA, and the establishment of a Joint Technical Committee to drive implementation.
In her response, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, welcomed the initiative and affirmed the Agencyโs commitment to working closely with the SSDC in advancing disaster resilience and sustainable development in the South-South region.
She outlined NEMAโs ongoing programs, including the training school at the University of Port Harcourt, where young people are being trained as first responders to emergencies within their communities.
Mrs. Umar, however, identified logistical and terrain challenges, such as bad roads, weak communication networks, and inadequate staffing in some State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), as key obstacles to effective disaster response. She therefore urged the SSDC to encourage state governments to strengthen their SEMA offices and promote frequent environmental sanitation exercises to ensure waterways remain clear of refuse.
The NEMA DG further advised that response efforts should not only focus on the distribution of relief materials but also address the root causes of disasters through infrastructural development and collaboration with relevant agencies such as the River Basin Authorities, Ministries of Water Resources, and Environment.
She cautioned against compromising Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports and stressed the importance of seeking the developmental plans of states before embarking on projects to prevent encroachment into areas unsuitable for human habitation, which could worsen environmental degradation.
Both agencies reaffirmed their shared commitment to safeguarding lives, restoring livelihoods, and building resilient communities across the South-South region through a coordinated, data-driven, and sustainable framework for disaster management.
