The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, says that the creation of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in their council areas will help the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) cushion disaster management efforts at the grassroots.

This was contained in a statement released by NEMA on its X account on Friday.
Speaking during a courtesy visit from ALGON’s National President, Hon. Bello Lawal, in Abuja, Mrs Umar advised that LEMCs should be headed by the Local Government Council Chairman or their representative.

She added that the committees will be saddled with the sole responsibilities of enhancing early warning systems, improving local resource mobilisation, and ensuring timely interventions during emergencies in their council area.

“At NEMA, we recognise the critical role local governments play in ensuring the success of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.”

“We remain committed to fostering a strong partnership with ALGON to ensure our strategies are inclusive, effective, and tailored to meet the unique needs of every community,” she added.
In her remarks, Hon. Bello Lawal noted that with the granting of financial autonomy to local government councils, there is a growing need for consultation and guidance from NEMA, particularly on resource utilisation for disaster management initiatives.

“ALGON, the umbrella body of Nigeria’s 774 local governments, aims to leverage this partnership with NEMA to strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness and response.

“This visit signifies the beginning of a collaborative effort between ALGON and NEMA, focused on improving disaster management and emergency response at the local government level,” she said.