The Nigerian Army and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at improving disaster preparedness, emergency response and humanitarian assistance across Nigeria, particularly as the country braces for increased flooding during the rainy season.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, made the commitment on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The Army Chief described NEMA as a strategic partner whose mandate complements the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility of supporting civil authorities during emergencies. He assured the agency of the Army’s continued readiness to provide rapid operational support in disaster situations nationwide.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu disclosed that the Nigerian Army has established specialized Disaster Response Units (DRUs) across all geopolitical zones, strategically positioned and equipped for swift deployment to flood-prone communities and other high-risk areas.
To enhance inter-agency coordination, the COAS directed the Chief of Training (Army) to grant NEMA access to the Land Forces Simulation Centre for joint tabletop exercises and scenario-based planning. He said the initiative would improve coordination, decision-making and operational readiness before actual field deployments.
The Army Chief also stressed the importance of proactive and intelligence-driven disaster risk management. He urged NEMA to intensify surveillance of critical infrastructure, including dams and reservoirs, while promoting regional cooperation on transboundary water management to reduce the impact of seasonal flooding.
According to him, effective disaster management depends on robust early warning systems, timely dissemination of information and seamless collaboration among relevant agencies. He noted that a coordinated national approach remains vital to safeguarding lives, protecting infrastructure and ensuring socio-economic stability.
Earlier, NEMA Director General Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar commended the Nigerian Army for its sustained support in disaster management operations across the country.
She revealed that flood forecasts indicate that 33 states are at high risk during the current rainy season, adding that simulation exercises would be conducted in vulnerable states, including Oyo, Cross River and Adamawa, to improve preparedness.
Mrs. Umar also appealed for greater military assistance in engineering, aviation and search-and-rescue operations to further strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to disasters.
