Zubaida Umar, Abuja (2026)

09/10/2026

Customer Service Week provides an important opportunity for organisations to pause from their routine activities, reflect on the quality of services they provide, appreciate their personnel, listen to the people they serve, and renew their commitment to humanitarian service excellence.

NEMA operates within an increasingly complex disaster environment. Floods, conflicts, fires, epidemics, building collapses, windstorms, drought, and other emergencies continue to affect communities across the country. These challenges place significant demands on the Agency and require us to continually improve our capabilities in preparedness, response, recovery, and disaster risk reduction.

Humanitarian service is a responsibility demonstrated through what we do, how quickly we respond, how we communicate, and how we treat people.

As we celebrate Customer Service Week, and recognising that institutions do not deliver services by themselves but through their people, I commend our staff and stakeholders across the country who continue to work under demanding circumstances to fulfil the Agency’s mandate.

We will continue to promote a workplace culture in which staff are encouraged to be responsive, respectful, innovative, solution-oriented, and accountable.

08/10/2026

In Addis Ababa for the Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Forum, as part of the Nigerian delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

President Bola Tinubu's administration is tackling malnutrition head-on, through a number of key policies and initiatives such as the implementation of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, the development of the National Food and Nutrition Bill, the establishment of the Presidential Nutrition Investment Fund, and many others outlined by the Vice President.

Our subnational governments are equally invested in the nutrition agenda. They are pooling resources toward supplies for preventing and treating malnutrition, while nutrition committees now operate in many State Houses of Assembly and local government areas.

Our agency, as a member body of the National Council on Nutrition, is also working synergistically with relevant organizations to mobilise additional domestic resources as we seek to bring down Nigeria's stunting rate to the absolute minimum.

08/10/2026

Happy Customer Service Week!

06/10/2026

NEMA DG CONDOLES NIGERIAN AIR FORCE OVER AIRCRAFT CRASH, DEPLOYS TECHNICAL TEAM

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has expressed deep sadness over the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near Igbokoda in Ondo State.

Mrs. Zubaida Umar extended her heartfelt condolences to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the entire Nigerian Air Force family, and the families of those affected by the unfortunate incident.

She described the incident as deeply painful, noting the invaluable sacrifices of personnel of the Nigerian Air Force in the service and defence of the nation.

In further support of the ongoing operations, the Director General has activated the Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, to lead a NEMA technical team to the crash location to reinforce the search and recovery operations. The deployment is in addition to NEMA personnel who have been at the site working alongside other responders.

Mrs. Zubaida Umar commended the prompt activation of search and rescue operations following the crash and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to providing the necessary coordination and operational support.

She prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives, comfort for their families and speedy recovery for any injured persons.

NEMA Press Unit
6th October 2026

01/10/2026

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

As we celebrate our 66th Independence Day, I am filled with deep gratitude for the incredible resilience, strength, and warmth of the Nigerian spirit.

Today, let us honour our journey and recommit to building a safer, stronger, and more resilient nation for generations to come.

Wishing us a peaceful Independence Day.

30/09/2026

I welcome, with profound gratitude and humility, my nomination as Public Service Person of the Year 2026 by Leadership News.

Coming from Leadership Newspapers, a respected media organisation that has continued to contribute to national discourse and public accountability, this recognition is particularly significant to me.

While the nomination bears my name, I consider it a recognition of the collective efforts of the management and staff of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigeria, especially our dedicated personnel across the country who work tirelessly, sometimes under very difficult and challenging circumstances, to save lives, provide humanitarian assistance, and support communities affected by disasters.

This recognition will further spur us to greater commitment and service. It will encourage us to consolidate the progress we have made, strengthen areas that require improvement, and continue to pursue innovative approaches that enhance our capacity to protect lives, livelihoods, and communities.

30/09/2026

I met with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja. Our discussion centred on strengthening national preparedness and response to disaster and other emergencies.

At the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigeria, inter-agency collaboration remains a top priority, given how the growing complexity of emergencies demands a coordinated approach that brings together the nation's available capabilities and resources.

While we have enjoyed longstanding support from the Nigerian Air Force HQ, we are now working to deepen collaboration with the Force’s Disaster Response Units to ensure timely mobilization and deployment whenever military support to civil authorities is required during emergencies.

24/09/2026

What has kept you going as a leader facing numerous challenges daily?

That was the question posed to me at the 2026 Global Connect of the Navigator Leadership Excellence Circle, a gathering of global thought leaders, business leaders, and change makers sharing ideas, insights, and perspectives.

Purpose. People. Calmness. These are the principles guiding my leadership at the National Emergency Management Agency. Leadership, I've come to believe, is a responsibility before it's ever a privilege, and in moments of real pressure, it is more about collective capacity than individual brilliance.

Over the past two years, drawing on lessons from across my career, we've worked to fix broken systems, question approaches that no longer serve us, and push for change that actually lasts.

That has meant motivating our teams to deliver desired results, building stronger partnerships with the relevant stakeholders, and strengthening how we prepare for and recover from disasters, through structures like our Local Emergency Management Committees, the Emergency Coordination Forum, and the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict. At the heart of all of it has been the people.

That hasn't changed, and it won't. Clear purpose. Value for people. Remaining calm enough to think when everything around you is not calm. Ethical leadership. Collaboration that reaches wide. And a commitment to keep learning.

So help me God.

21/09/2026

NEMA ACTIVATES OPERATIONS OFFICES FOLLOWING HIGH FLOOD RISK ALERT

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has activated the Agency’s Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices to be on standby following the high flood risk alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) for 15 states across the country.

The flood advisory released by NIHSA forecasts a high risk of riverine flooding as a result of rising river levels in Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia States.

Following the advisory, Mrs Zubaida Umar directed NEMA offices covering the affected states to immediately activate existing preparedness mechanisms within their areas of responsibility, maintain close coordination with relevant authorities and response stakeholders, monitor developments in vulnerable locations, and remain prepared to support necessary response interventions.

The Director General urged residents of communities located on floodplains, riverbanks, low-lying areas and other exposed locations to take the warning seriously and move to identified safe and higher ground before flood conditions become critical.

She particularly advised that adequate attention be given to vulnerable persons, including children, older persons, pregnant women and persons with disabilities, during evacuation and other precautionary measures.

Mrs Zubaida Umar also called on relevant State and Local Government authorities to activate their emergency preparedness mechanisms and pre-position essential relief and response materials at safe strategic locations on higher ground to facilitate rapid intervention where necessary.

These should include food and non-food items, safe drinking water and water-treatment supplies, first-aid and medical supplies, as well as rescue equipment.

The Director General stressed the importance of early action in reducing the potential impact of flooding on lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure. She urged communities to cooperate with emergency management authorities and comply with evacuation advisories whenever issued.

She also cautioned residents against crossing flooded roads, bridges or fast-moving water, either on foot or in vehicles, and advised communities to continue monitoring official flood warnings and updates from relevant government agencies.

NEMA will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with NIHSA, State Emergency Management Agencies and other relevant stakeholders, while its response teams remain on standby to provide necessary support where required.

21st September, 2026

18/09/2026

We carried out a full-scale simulation exercise on riverine and urban flooding in Benue State yesterday.

Codenamed Exercise "UWAR UMA," meaning "Saving Lives," it appropriately captures the purpose and collective responsibility of disaster management.

The exercise presented the opportunity to test, under realistic conditions, how quickly and effectively we can move from early warning to community action, local coordination, State-level response, and, where necessary, federal support.

With its unique topography, dense network of rivers and floodplains, seasonal rains, and communities situated along the River Benue, Benue State faces significant flood risk, a reality reinforced by the 2026 flood outlook and its call for stronger preparedness, timely warnings, and coordinated response and evacuation.

I commend the Government and people of Benue State, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Local Emergency Management Committees, communities, and all participating agencies and partners for their commitment to this exercise.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigeria remains dedicated to working with the Benue State Government and all stakeholders to strengthen disaster preparedness, reduce vulnerability, and enhance the capacity to save lives and protect livelihoods.

Zubaida Umar

09/10/2026

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