He stated this when stakeholders from government agencies, security organisations, humanitarian groups, and the media came together in Kano on Monday to deliberate on strengthening disaster preparedness and response capacities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, themed: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”, brought together stakeholders to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), held in Kano.
Abdullahi said the theme underscored the importance of proactive funding and planning to build safer communities and minimise losses from preventable disasters.
“This year’s theme reminds us of the critical importance of investing in prevention, preparedness, and community resilience rather than waiting to respond to crises after they occur.
“As part of this commemoration, we are showcasing our disaster response assets and capacities to build confidence among partners and demonstrate our readiness to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies,” he said
He appreciated stakeholders for their continued collaboration and support toward reducing disaster risks in Kano and neighboring states, emphasising that collective effort was key to sustainable disaster management.
Also speaking, NEMA’s Head of Search and Rescue, Mr Abdulhadi Tukur, stressed that investing in resilience saves more lives and resources compared to post-disaster response.
He reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to strengthening local capacities, training response teams, and fostering community-based preparedness initiatives.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Isyaku-Kubarachi, commended NEMA for its partnership and reiterated the state government’s commitment to proactive disaster risk reduction.
“On behalf of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to reducing disaster risks and building a safer and more resilient future for all,” he stated.
In his remarks, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Mr Kazeem Oyefola-Sholadoye, stressed the importance of fire prevention and forecasting systems to reduce fire outbreaks.
He called for the establishment of a disaster and emergency response trust fund and urged the public to embrace the national fire safety code in building design and infrastructure planning.
“Our role as responders is not just to react but to work proactively with stakeholders to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate the effects of disasters,” Oyefola-Sholadoye said.
NAN reports that during the event, NEMA showcased various emergency response and safety equipment, including personal protective gear, life jackets, search and rescue kits, first aid boxes, and fire safety tools among others.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Red Cross Society, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), among other agencies.