Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
The outgoing Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Nigeria, Mr. Trond Jensen, paid a farewell and handover visit to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday. He was accompanied by Mr. Peter Rice, the newly appointed UN Humanitarian Reset and Transition Coordinator.
Receiving the delegation, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, commended Mr. Jensen for his tireless service and strong partnership with Nigerian authorities. She highlighted that his leadership “significantly strengthened joint humanitarian action across the country,” ensuring that aid reached vulnerable populations effectively.
During the visit, Mr. Jensen introduced Mr. Rice, who outlined his role in driving Nigeria’s humanitarian reset and transition process. He briefed Mrs. Umar on ongoing reforms, including the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, emphasizing the need for stronger government financing amid declining global humanitarian resources.
Both parties reviewed lessons from this year’s anticipatory actions for flood response. The UNOCHA delegation praised NEMA’s leadership in disaster risk reduction, particularly its community-level simulations and awareness campaigns. In response, the DG of NEMA stressed the importance of avoiding duplication between UN agencies and government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), noting that NEMA’s operations address multiple hazards beyond floods, including banditry, mass-casualty incidents, train attacks, and boat mishaps.
The meeting also underscored the need for deeper engagement with state and local actors to strengthen coordination both vertically and horizontally. Both agencies agreed to enhance joint planning, follow-up mechanisms, matched funding, and stronger accountability to affected populations as part of the ongoing humanitarian transition.
The handover marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to streamline humanitarian response and improve disaster preparedness across the country.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments