By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has launched the National Mass Fatality Response Plan aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively and humanely to mass casualty events resulting from disasters.
The plan, unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja, provides a comprehensive framework to guide federal, state, and local agencies in the management of mass fatalities, ensuring the dead and their families are treated with dignity and respect during emergencies.
Unveiled by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the plan incorporates international best practices while addressing Nigeria’s specific cultural, religious, and logistical realities.
Speaking at the launch, NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, highlighted the importance of a structured and compassionate approach to mass fatalities, noting that Nigeria has experienced a surge in disasters such as explosions, floods, building collapses, and epidemics.
“In the aftermath of these tragedies, families are left grieving and communities are devastated. This plan is a product of our collective commitment to change the narrative by ensuring a dignified, coordinated, and professional response,” Umar said.
She noted that the plan outlines clear standard operating procedures to guide stakeholders during emergencies and promote inter-agency coordination, transparency, and accountability.
In his remarks, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Onimode Bamidele, thanked the ICRC and other partners for their commitment to finalizing the plan, which has been in development for seven years.
He urged state emergency management agencies to take ownership of the document and ensure its full implementation, stressing that it must not “end up on the shelf.”
Also speaking, ICRC Nigeria’s Protection Coordinator, Nourane Houas, expressed optimism that the plan will be promptly operationalised, enhancing preparedness and safeguarding the dignity of disaster victims nationwide.
