Gov Lawal Calls for Sustainable Funding to Build Disaster Resilience

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has called for sustainable and collaborative funding mechanisms to strengthen Nigeria’s disaster management and resilience efforts.

Speaking during the launch of the National Disaster Risk Strategy 2025–2030 organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the governor emphasized that disasters are interlinked and must be addressed through strategic planning.

“Disasters occur in a vicious cycle where one disaster fuels another. Our experience underscores the saying that no risk is truly isolated; it is interconnected, and managing it requires a strategic approach,” he said.

Governor Lawal commended NEMA for developing a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan and urged all stakeholders to ensure that no one is left behind in efforts to build a safer and more resilient nation.

“The theme of today’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, ‘Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,’ must be transformed into concrete actions. Funding mechanisms must be dynamic, flexible, and readily available,” he added.

Highlighting the challenges faced by Zamfara, the governor said the state has been grappling with insecurity, fires, displacement, mining shaft collapses, floods, and other effects of climate change.

He praised NEMA for its consistent interventions and assured that his administration is strengthening the Zamfara Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) to enhance its response capacity through early warning systems, community engagement, and institutional reforms.

“We believe systemic resilience starts at the sub-national level. ZEMA has been granted greater powers to improve emergency preparedness and response,” Lawal stated.

The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, for their leadership and support during critical times.

“On behalf of the government and people of Zamfara State, I thank you all for your interventions and for always standing with us in times of need,” he said.