NEMA, World Bank Train Kebbi Stakeholders on Flood Preparedness and Response
Birnin Kebbi, September 29, 2025 – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with the World Bank, has organized a two-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop in Birnin Kebbi to build the capacity of over 40 participants drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and security agencies in Kebbi State on Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R).
Declaring the workshop open, the Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the state’s disaster management architecture, particularly against the backdrop of predictions of potential flooding in low-lying areas due to heavy rainfall.
Represented by the Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr. Isaya Isah Chonoko, the DG underscored the importance of government support in mitigating the risks. She urged the Kebbi State Government under Governor Nasir Idris to provide policy guidance, mobilize resources, and promote awareness campaigns to safeguard vulnerable communities.
“In the coming days, we shall engage in fruitful discussions, exchange knowledge, and develop strategies that will enhance our emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Beyond rainfall, the release of water from upstream dams also poses a serious threat, and Kebbi remains one of the states that must work actively with all stakeholders to mitigate these risks,” she noted.
Hajiya Umar highlighted that the objectives of the project were multifaceted. These, she said, include establishing a robust EP&R structure across all local communities in Kebbi, building their capacities, creating a comprehensive database of volunteers, and advocating for the adoption and inauguration of Local Emergency Maintenance Committees (LEMCs).
She explained that with this intervention, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will be better positioned to coordinate disaster management at the sub-national level and strengthen disaster risk reduction strategies across the state.
The NEMA boss expressed deep appreciation to the World Bank Group for its support and collaboration, while also commending the tireless efforts of the agency’s staff, development partners, and community stakeholders whose contributions made the workshop possible.
The training, according to organizers, is part of a broader initiative to promote community resilience, ensure timely disaster response, and reduce the impact of natural disasters on lives and property in Kebbi State.