Zamfara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in addressing disaster-related challenges across the state.Governor Dr. Dauda Lawal stated this on Monday during the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and the official launch of related strategic documents held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.According to a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the event was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who officially launched NEMA’s Strategic Plan (2025–2029), the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy (2025–2030), and the Action Plan (2025–2028).Governor Lawal commended NEMA for organizing the timely dialogue and for its unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s disaster risk management framework.He said disasters occur in a vicious cycle where one fuels another. “Our experience underscores the reality that no risk is truly interconnected, and managing it requires a strategic and coordinated approach.”The Governor urged all stakeholders to deepen collaboration and ensure inclusiveness in their collective efforts to build a safer and more resilient Nigeria.“To ensure sustainability, it is crucial to build resilience in funding, as disaster management is a dynamic and evolving process. Funding mechanisms should therefore be dynamic, flexible, and readily available,” he added.Dr. Lawal noted that, Zamfara State continues to face multiple disasters and emergencies both natural and man-made including insecurity, fire outbreaks, displacement, mining shaft collapses, flooding, and the adverse impacts of climate change.“Through it all, we can always count on NEMA to be there as part of the management, recovery, reconstruction, and mitigation efforts. On behalf of the Government and People of Zamfara State, I sincerely thank NEMA for its consistent interventions and support in our times of need,” he said.The Governor further disclosed that the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) has been empowered with greater authority to improve emergency response mechanisms in the state.“We are integrating disaster risk management into governance through early warning systems, community engagement, and institutional reforms because we believe systemic resilience begins at the sub-national level,” he explained.Governor Lawal also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his leadership during these challenging times, and to Vice President Kashim Shettima, NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar, and other development partners for their continuous support to Zamfara State.The theme of this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” emphasizes the need for practical and sustainable funding models to strengthen disaster preparedness across the country.
