Zubaida Umar, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has declared the agency’s full operational readiness for timely and effective response to emergencies during the Yuletide and beyond.

Mrs Umar made the pledge on Saturday while she led the members of staff of the agency on a fitness exercise in Abuja.

The exercise, which featured a route walk of about five kilometres, aimed at promoting physical fitness, teamwork, and preparedness among members of staff in line with the agency’s mandate.

The director-general assured Nigerians that NEMA had activated its preparedness mechanisms nationwide and was working in close coordination with relevant stakeholders, to ensure rapid response to any emergency situation during the festive period.

“The reason why we started this fitness walk in December, of course, is for all of you to know that December is the climax of the “EMBA” period, a high-risk season for accidents, heightened travel, and associated crises.”

The NEMA boss urged members of the public to remain safety-conscious throughout the celebrations.

She advised motorists to avoid speeding, adhere to traffic regulations, and exercise caution on the roads and waterways, at public gatherings, and in residential areas.

Mrs Umar reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to the protection of lives and property.

She emphasised that the agency remained on standby across its zonal, territorial, and state operations offices to facilitate timely response to emergencies that may arise during the Yuletide season and in the days ahead.

Mrs Umar, at the end of the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the fitness level, discipline, and operational preparedness of NEMA personnel.

She noted that physical readiness was critical to effective emergency response, especially during periods of heightened human and vehicular activities.

According to her, maintaining fitness is integral to the agency’s capacity to respond.

“We all come out, we make sure that we’re all fit so that we can respond to any emergency that may come our way. We need physical, mental, and operational readiness.”

The exercise, she noted, serves a dual purpose, extending preparedness efforts to the Nigerian populace.

Also speaking, the director of search and rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Bature Usman, explained that the fitness exercise is a routine activity designed to keep personnel physically and mentally prepared for emergency response operations at all times.

The exercise featured the participation of key stakeholders drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

It underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in effective disaster response.

(NAN)