EU Humanitarian Aid Chief visits NEMA to discuss collaboration

The Head of the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (EU-ECHO) in Nigeria, Mr. Alexandre Castellano Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.  

Mr. Castellano, accompanied by the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr. Zizzimos Vergos, and EU-ECHO Programme Officer, Ms. Comfort Agwu, said the visit was aimed at strengthening EU-ECHO’s collaboration with NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in providing humanitarian support to individuals affected by disasters across Nigeria.

During the visit, Mr. Castellano praised the Federal Government for establishing NEMA as the coordinating agency for disaster management, emphasising that EU-ECHO shares similar mandates within the European Union’s civil protection framework. He said that the EU-ECHO has been actively engaged in humanitarian efforts, working closely with Civil Protection Departments of various EU member states for international disaster response.

In her response, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed gratitude for the visit and highlighted  NEMA’s ongoing efforts in managing the impact of the 2024 rainy season. She explained that the initial flooding incidents that occurred  in the northern parts of the country had gradually moved southwards, as water from major rivers flowed to the states where  NEMA’s rescue teams have been activated and currently providing support.