In the first quarter of 2025, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) intensified its commitment to integrating nutrition-sensitive strategies into disaster preparedness and response. Through collaborative efforts with national and international partners, NEMA addressed the multifaceted challenges posed by climate-induced emergencies, ensuring that nutrition remained a central focus in humanitarian interventions.

Strengthening National Coordination for Nutrition in Emergencies

As an active member of the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN), NEMA played a pivotal role in enhancing food security and nutrition outcomes across Nigeria. The agency facilitated the provision of warehouses nationwide, overseeing the custody and distribution of the Federal Government’s subsidized rice to various MDAs and state governments. Additionally, NEMA provided timely situation reports on these distributions to relevant authorities, ensuring transparency and accountability. Nema further provided food and hygiene assistance to 59,190 persons (9,865 Households) disaster affected across the country.

In collaboration with the King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre (KSrelief), NEMA distributed 4,500 baskets of donated food items to vulnerable households in Kebbi and Adamawa States. Furthermore, the agency partnered with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, representing the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to distribute conditional cash transfer vouchers to individuals affected by the 2024 floods, aiding in their recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Proactive Flood Risk Management and Early Warning Systems

Anticipating the challenges of the 2025 rainy season, NEMA convened a stakeholders’ forum to analyze the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP). The forum, attended by 54 local MDAs and international partners, aimed to disseminate early warning information to state governors and downscale alerts to at-risk communities. This initiative emphasized the importance of early action in mitigating food and nutrition emergencies resulting from climate-related disasters.

Complementing these efforts, NEMA conducted community-based early warning actions and awareness campaigns on flood prevention, preparedness, and waste management across various states, including the Federal Capital Territory. These campaigns aimed to empower communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to mitigate food insecurity following the anticipated floods.

 

Enhancing Capacity for Nutrition-Sensitive Emergency Response

Recognizing the critical role of diversified diets in emergency settings, NEMA provided technical and operational support to State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). The agency focused on improving knowledge on SEMAs’ food assistance policies by emphasizing the inclusion of diverse food groups in relief distributions while leveraging the agency’s complementary efforts to ensure disaster affected persons receive diversified food items during emergencies.

Nutrition Financing and Resource Mobilization

In the reporting quarter, NEMA allocated ₦135,000,000.00 towards nutrition-related interventions.

Recognizing Collaborative Efforts in Nutrition Support

NEMA acknowledges the invaluable contributions of its partners in enhancing nutrition outcomes during emergencies:

  • King Salman Humanitarian Relief Centre (KSrelief): Donated 4,500 emergency food baskets to disaster-affected households in Kebbi and Adamawa States.
  • Embassy of India in Nigeria: Provided water purification kits, sleeping mats, blankets, and other essential items to support affected communities.
  • Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS): Distributed cash vouchers to victims of the 2024 flood disaster across thirteen states, facilitating livelihood restoration.

 

Upcoming Initiatives and Events

Looking ahead, NEMA plans to implement several key activities aimed at bolstering nutrition-sensitive emergency responses:

  • Downscaling 2025 Flood Warnings: Disseminating early action alerts to affected states and communities based on the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook.
  • Food Security and Nutrition Assistance: Providing continued support to disaster victims nationwide.
  • Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E): Expanding efforts to supply complementary foods to children aged 6–23 months to prevent acute malnutrition.
  • 2025 National Nutrition Week: Engaging stakeholders in activities promoting nutrition awareness and interventions.
  • Capacity Building for Emergency Managers: Training SEMAs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) on integrating nutrition into emergency feeding programs.
  • Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF): Hosting a two-day forum involving 82 attendees from MDAs and international partners to enhance coordination in emergency responses.

 

Recommendations for Strengthening Nutrition in Emergency Responses

To further enhance the effectiveness of nutrition interventions during emergencies, NEMA recommends:

  • Capacity Building: Providing specialized training for NEMA Relief and Rehabilitation officers on food security and nutrition to improve intervention quality.
  • Coordinated Emergency Interventions: Ensuring that partner-led emergency interventions are channeled through NEMA for proper coordination at national, sub-national, and community levels. This approach will enhance needs-based prioritization and facilitate impact monitoring.