The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and World Bank have received Governor Babagana Zulum’s support toward the implementation of the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan in Borno.

Mr Zulum gave the assurance when he received a high-powered delegation from NEMA and the World Bank on Monday in Maiduguri.

Bukar Tijjani, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who received the delegation on behalf of the governor, expressed appreciation to NEMA and the World Bank for their longstanding partnership with Borno, especially in humanitarian and post-insurgency recovery interventions.

“NEMA has been one of the most collaborative federal entities supporting us in all emergencies, from floods to insurgency and health crises.

“The World Bank has also stood by us through the most difficult times. They are not just partners; they are friends of Borno,” the governor said.

He said Borno’s inclusion as one of the seven pilot states for the EPR plan was a recognition of its proactive approach to disaster management and institutional reforms through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Mr Zulum said his administration’s leadership philosophy had prioritised self-reliance, early intervention, and collaboration with both national and international partners.

“We use our own technical, human, and financial resources to start interventions and then collaborate with agencies like NEMA and the World Bank for sustainability,” the governor said.

Mr Zulum commended SEMA and NEMA’s North-East zonal office for their synergy and consistent coordination in managing humanitarian response and resettlement programmes.

Earlier, the director-general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said they were in Borno as part of a joint mission to assess the state’s level of preparedness under the ongoing EPR framework, supported by the World Bank.

Ms Umar, represented by Bandele Onimode, the director of planning, research, and forecasting in NEMA, said the visit would also evaluate and improve the state of disaster readiness.

She said only seven states were selected for the pilot phase, adding that Borno was chosen as a result of its exemplary leadership and operational excellence in disaster management within the North-East.

“With this collaboration, we believe emergency preparedness and response will be taken to greater heights,” the director general said.

The NEMA boss also congratulated the state government for revitalising SEMA, describing the agency’s progress as a model of institutional transformation that demonstrates the state’s commitment to saving lives and protecting communities.

“When subnational emergency agencies are strengthened, NEMA’s burden is lessened, and our national response system becomes more resilient,” Ms Umar said.

She, however, reaffirmed NEMA’s readiness to continue working closely with the state government and development partners such as the World Bank to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the region.

(NAN)