The National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (NEMA) has expressed readiness to lead the country's transition toward nationally coordinated humanitarian response efforts amid shifting UN roles, the local publication Daily Nigerian reported, citing NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar.
According to Umar, the transition represents an important step in establishing a sustainable national emergency response system and aligns with NEMA's statutory mandate. The agency aims to strengthen intergovernmental coordination, enhance emergency preparedness, improve data management, and develop partnerships across all levels of government.
The NEMA chief also reaffirmed the agency's commitment to working closely with other government emergency response agencies, UN institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders to build a sustainable, locally managed humanitarian response system.
Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Bernard Doro, for his part, noted that the transition is driven by changes in the global humanitarian environment.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malik Fall, emphasized that this does not mean the UN is leaving the country. According to him, the organization is shifting to an advisory and technical partnership role, helping Nigerian institutions strengthen their own capacity and take the lead in humanitarian activities.
Earlier this year, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stated that Nigeria would face one of the most severe food crises in recent years in 2026, with approximately 35 million people potentially facing food shortages.