Mrs Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has appealed for stronger collaboration with stakeholders on disaster management.
Umar made the call at a sensitisation lecture organised by the agency in commemoration of the Customer Service Week in Sokoto.
TheMomentng reports that the event, with a theme: ”Mission Impossible” was organised as part of 2025 customer service week activities.
Umar, represented by the Zonal Head, Alhaji Aliyu Kafindangi, said: “the heart of a successful agency lies on its commitment to delivering exceptional and satisfactory services to its customers and stakeholders.
”In our case, those we served are often the most vulnerable members of society, victims of emergencies and disasters.
”Our customers, whether they are victims of natural disasters, displaced persons, or communities impacted by disasters, rely on us for timely, efficient, and compassionate assistance,” she said.
She observed that as emergency managers, the quality of services the agency delivered was akin to a difference between life and death.
She added that NEMA activities covered millions of Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods depend on agency’s efficiency, empathy, and professionalism.
”NEMA is responding to disasters, coordinating humanitarian relief, managing internally displaced persons’ camps, and strengthen community resilience.
”Our success is measured by the trust and satisfaction of the people we serve,” Umar added.
She explained that NEMA mandate demand more than just coordination of emergency response, it further demands excellence in every action and integrity in every process.
The director-general said that quality assurance ensures that every relief effort reaches the right people, at the right time, with the right resources.
”Compliance to strengthen public trust and aligns our humanitarian interventions with national policies and international standards,” he said.
According to her, the customer service week is a global awareness initiative that recognises the essential role of customer service in organisations and the people who provide those services.
She underscored the importance of recognising the contributions of each customer towards achieving the overall mission.
”Whether you are in the frontline of disaster response, logistics, planning or administration, your work is an integral part of emergency management.
”It is through your effort that we are able to coordinate swift and effective responses to disasters/emergencies across the country,” she confirmed.
The DG commended the staff of the agency for their resilience and proactive efforts in discharging their duties, adding that their professionalism and dedication speaks volumes about NEMA’s core values of service, integrity and humanity.
Speaking also, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) representative, Mr Benjamin Tijjani, said service to humanity is a calling not just a responsibility which needed coordination, response, providing relief to affected persons and strengthening the preparedness.
Tijjani highlighted that the collective mission is to make the impossible possible and to ensure that hope endures even in the most challenging circumstances.
TheMomentng reports that stakeholders pledged collaborative efforts toward strengthening a service culture where every Nigerian, no matter their circumstance, feels heard, valued, and supported.
The event also featured display of disaster response and safety working tools, presentations, questions and answers.
The lecture was attended by the officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (NSCDC), Police, Federal and State Fire Service, Read Cross Society, Emergency Nurses Association of Nigeria, state government among others.
