Cynthia Ezegwu
The Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have called for increased investment in disaster prevention and community resilience as a more sustainable approach to managing emergencies across the country.
This call was made on Monday during events commemorating the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in both Abuja and Kano, with the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”
Speaking in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima stressed the need for proactive investment in preparedness and resilience to reduce the social and economic impacts of disasters.
“It is wiser, cheaper, and more humane to prepare for disasters before they strike than to rebuild after they destroy. Every naira we spend today on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery,” Shettima stated.
The event also featured the unveiling of NEMA’s Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030), both designed to promote risk-informed development, innovative financing, and stronger institutional collaboration.
In Kano, the Head of Operations of NEMA’s Kano Office, Nura Abdullahi, emphasized the importance of investing in disaster prevention and community resilience to build safer societies.
“As part of this commemoration, we are showcasing our disaster response assets and capacities to build confidence among partners and demonstrate our readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies,” Abdullahi said.
He commended stakeholders for their continuous collaboration in reducing disaster risks in Kano and neighbouring states, noting that collective effort remains key to sustainable emergency management.
Also speaking, NEMA’s Head of Search and Rescue, Abdulhadi Tukur, highlighted that investing in resilience saves more lives and resources compared to post-disaster response.
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Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Isyaku-Kubarachi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to proactive disaster risk reduction, pledging continued partnership with NEMA to build a safer future.
The State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Kazeem Oyefola-Sholadoye, called for the creation of a disaster and emergency response trust fund and urged compliance with the national fire safety code in infrastructure planning.
“Our role as responders is not just to react but to work proactively with stakeholders to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate the effects of disasters,” he said.
The event in Kano featured an exhibition of emergency response equipment such as personal protective gear, life jackets, search and rescue kits, and fire safety tools.
Representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Red Cross Society, the National Inland Waterways Authority, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps also delivered goodwill messages reaffirming their support for a coordinated disaster risk reduction framework.