The director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, says state and local governments should take responsibility as first responders during disasters.

Ms Umar said this during her opening remarks at the Emergency Coordination Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.

The forum aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and address the challenges posed by the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction.

The event brought together stakeholders from federal, state, and local governments to evaluate the outcomes of 2024 disaster management efforts and strategise for the year ahead.

She said advocacy and awareness campaigns would continue at the grassroots level, particularly in flood-prone communities, to emphasise the importance of relocation when advised.

Ms Umar underscored the need for early planning, collaboration with state emergency management agencies, and the use of seasonal climate predictions to protect lives and property.

She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to proactive flood management in Nigeria and commended stakeholders for their dedication to effective and efficient disaster response.

Ms Umar emphasised the need for inter-agency collaboration to address increasing disaster complexities.

She highlighted NEMA’s focus on analysing climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, water resources, and health to develop early warning systems and mitigation strategies.

(NAN)