The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, yesterday charged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across the country to strengthen collaboration for a more robust disaster response system at the grassroots.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 National SEMA Conference held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, Umar said emergency management must shift from reactive to proactive measures.

“Emergency management can no longer be reactive; it must be predictive, preventive and participatory. Citizens should not encounter us only when disaster strikes but also see us daily, building safer communities and raising awareness,” she said.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) hosted the three-day conference in partnership with NEMA, with heads of SEMAs from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in attendance.

Umar described the forum as a “call to action,” stressing that protection of lives, property, and community resilience should remain the priority of all stakeholders.

She commended LASEMA for decentralising response units and leveraging technology, noting that “Lagos has shown that with vision and commitment, significant progress can be achieved in disaster management.”

The NEMA boss also restated the agency’s commitment to early warning systems, data forecasting, grassroots capacity-building, and transparent intervention strategies.

Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Hamzat pledged the state’s continued support for collaborative disaster preparedness initiatives, commending both NEMA and LASEMA for their leadership.

During the conference, Umar was decorated as an Honorary Member of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria by its President, Dr. Idris Abbas, in recognition of her contributions to disaster risk reduction.

Expert presentations also featured at the event. Dr. Adeleke Pitan spoke on “From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level,” while Mr. Ade Ipaye discussed “Legal, Policy and Revenue Reforms as Enablers of Emergency Management,” and Mr. Bamgbose Martin delivered a paper titled “Emergency Services: A Clarion Call.”

Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu, said the conference provided a structured platform for reviewing strategies in preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience nationwide.

Earlier in June, NEMA had organised a strategic planning workshop to shape its operational blueprint for disaster management, focusing on institutional capacity, partnerships, and rapid response.