Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar has called for a coordinated, inclusive approach to strengthen Nigeria’s resilience against a host of threats from natural hazards.

Umar made the appeal at the Validation Workshop for the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategy (2025-2030) and Action Plan (2025–2028) toward national safety and sustainable development in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by Ishaya Chonoko, NEMA’s Director, Risk Reduction, said the new DRR strategy, anchored on the globally recognised Sendai Framework.

According to her, the framework aims to shift Nigeria’s disaster management paradigm from reactive responses to proactive prevention.

She stressed that the risks posed threats not only to lives and livelihoods, but also to sustainable national economic development, peace, and security.

Umar called on stakeholders from government, communities, private sector, academia, and civil society to collaborate in shaping the strategy.

She added that the strategy should be shaped into “a truly actionable tool that empowers institutions, protects communities, and ensures no one is left behind.”

Throughout the workshop, participants are expected to refine and affirm the roadmap for advancing DRR over the next five years.

The strategy is widely seen as a blueprint to build resilience, adapt to climate change, and safeguard Nigeria’s hard-won development progress.

She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to lead and coordinate national efforts, adding that, “We are confident that this strategy, once validated and adopted, will guide us toward a resilient, safe, and disaster-prepared Nigeria.”

Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said recent assessments from the National Disaster Loss and Damage Database showed that over 45,000 disaster incidents nationwide, covering 23 priority hazards.

Attafuah who was represented by Ibironke Olubamise said the data would inform evidence-based planning and targeted resilience building.

She noted that the country’s population was projected to exceed 250 million within five years, making it imperative to act decisively and collectively to reduce disaster risks.

“The National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy is a result of extensive consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

“This will reflect the voices and priorities of government institutions, development partners, local communities, and the private sector, ” she said.

According to her, the strategy aims to guide efforts to reduce disaster risks, protect lives and livelihoods, and ensure no community is left behind.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Maryam Keshinro, reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that disaster risk reduction in Nigeria was “gender-responsive, socially inclusive, and transformative.”

She emphasised the importance of integrating gender perspectives, equity, and inclusivity in all stages of planning and implementation.

Keshinro noted that disasters disproportionately affected women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

“However, women and girls are also critical agents of resilience, innovation, and recovery.

“Therefore, it is essential to deliberately integrate gender perspectives in disaster risk reduction strategies,” Keshinro said.

By David Torough, Abuja

The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue State chapter in collaboration with the family of late Ibya Atume of Mbaakoso, Mbayegh council ward of Ushongo Local Government Area, has released the burial programme of late Hon.

According to a statement by Henry Ibya, elder brother to the deceased released yesterday in Makurdi as approved by the SWC of the PDP said late Hon.

The statement further revealed that first wake which comes up on August 19 (Tuesday ) at his Makurdi resident, No 3 Leva Nyam Street, off Abu King Shuluwa Road, around E- Division Police Station Makurdi.

The statement also indicates that on August 20 (Wednesday), body departs Bishop Murray Hospital Mortuary Makurdi to late Ibya Atume family compound Ushongo town for all night wake both at the family residence and LGEA Primary School play ground Ushongo venue of the occasion.

It added that the body of late Hon. Francis Atondo Ibya (Jahman) would be laid to rest after burial rights at his family country home, Tse Ibya Atume, Mbaakema, Mbaakoso, Mbayegh council ward of Ushongo LGA.

Born 47 years ago, to the family of late Mr Ibya Atume and late Mrs Awashima Ibya, Hon. Francis Atondo Ibya (Jahman) who served the PDP with dedication and commitment as State Youth Leader, died on August 9 at Federal Medical Center (FMC), Kefi after a brief illness and is survived by his wife, three children, brothers, sisters, in-laws, friends, political associates and well wishers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has commenced investigation of one Duru Damian arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over alleged failure to declare 49,000 dollars at Lagos Airport.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that Damian was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check at the AML/ CFT Currency Declaration Desk on Monday at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

“Upon his arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai, claimed he had only 10,000 dollars on him.

“However, when a search was conducted on him, a sum of 49,000 dollars was discovered undeclared, totaling 59,000 dollars,” he said.

The Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport, Effiong Harrison, while handing over to the EFCC, decried failure of travellers to comply with the currency declaration law.

“Today, we are having a process that we have been doing over a period of time now.

“When we intercept currencies, we do the needful of handing over to the appropriate agencies of government,” Harrison said.

According to him, sustained sensitization and announcements are being made at relevant airports on the need for travellers to declare their currencies or equivalents.

“Also, the electronic signages in the halls display these messages.  Yet, at intervals, we also have people who fail to adhere to the extant laws and regulations,” he said.

On his part while receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander Ahmed Ghali, said the commission would continue to enforce the law.

“We are here to take over one of the recalcitrant Nigerians who do not want to abide with the law in relation to money laundering.

“We will not relent in enforcing the law.   All that we are saying is that laws are meant to be obeyed.

“We will always do our best, in line with our mandate, to ensure that any individual who violates the law does not go scot free,” Ghali said.