FEMA hosts Emergency Management Forum, calls for stronger stakeholder preparedness

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday convened stakeholders across government, security agencies, civil society, emergency response organisations, and the media for the FEMA RCL Emergency Management Forum 2025, with a strong charge to strengthen preparedness, resilience, and coordinated disaster response across the country.

Welcoming participants to the forum in Abuja, FEMA’s Director-General, Engr. Mohammed Abdulrahman said the gathering was not just another event but a strategic platform designed to transform ideas into actionable policies and deepen multi-sectoral cooperation in emergency management.

According to him, the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria at large continue to face evolving threats, including floods, fire outbreaks, building collapses, public health emergencies, and other human-induced incidents challenges that demand not only rapid response but proactive readiness.

“Our world today faces evolving threats ,floods, fire outbreaks, building collapses, public health emergencies, and various human-induced incidents,” the DG said. “These emergencies demand not only rapid response but proactive readiness, shared responsibility, and multi-sectoral cooperation.”

He emphasized that FEMA remains committed to building resilient communities through continuous training, public sensitization, early warning systems, and strategic partnerships. He highlighted the agency’s collaboration with the RCL Safety Centre and other critical stakeholders as instrumental in expanding FEMA’s mission and ensuring the FCT remains a national model for coordinated emergency preparedness.

The DG noted that today’s sessions would focus on new technologies, best practices, community engagement strategies, and innovative tools that support emergency risk reduction and resilience building. He expressed gratitude to partners, speakers, trainers, exhibitors, media professionals, and participants for their dedication to safeguarding lives and property.

“Your presence here reaffirms the fact that when we collaborate, we save more lives,” he said, urging participants to engage actively, share knowledge openly, and explore opportunities for stronger partnerships.

Representing the media constituency, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, said journalists play a critical role in emergency preparedness through timely, accurate, and responsible information dissemination. She commended FEMA for sustaining a culture of partnership and emphasized that credible communication strengthens community resilience.

“As journalists, we recognize the vital role of timely, accurate information in mitigating the impact of disasters and safeguarding lives,” Comrade Grace Ike said. She described the forum as a vital platform for fostering collaboration, enhancing communication networks, and promoting community readiness.

The forum brought together stakeholders to review existing frameworks, identify gaps, and propose strategies to boost collective preparedness across the FCT.

Stakeholders agreed that coordinated action and shared responsibility remain central to building a safer and more resilient Abuja and by extension, a safer Nigeria.