UNICEF, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other stakeholders have emphasised the urgent need to strengthen humanitarian coordination in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara.

UNICEF’s chief of field office, Michael Juma, made the remark during a validation workshop jointly organised by the humanitarian affairs ministries in the three states, with support from UNICEF, on Friday in Sokoto.

The standard operating procedure validation meeting aimed to enhance and streamline emergency response coordination across the region.

Mr Juma described the workshop as a significant step towards faster and more efficient disaster responses and called for deeper partnerships among humanitarian agencies.

He highlighted the SOP as a practical, step-by-step guide for all actors, from the initial emergency trigger to final deactivation.

“It begins with an emergency trigger and notification, clearly identifying lead agencies, activation triggers, and alert mechanisms. Search and rescue arrangements follow, covering team mobilisation, evacuation protocols, and public communication,” Mr Juma said.

Also speaking, UNICEF emergency specialist Olayinka Afolabi, explained that the SOP ensured that once an emergency was confirmed, coordination structures were activated through state emergency operation centres and multi-sectoral collaboration.

He noted that the joint rapid needs assessment would define timelines, set priorities, and clarify responsibilities to enable timely and accurate data collection.

He added that the response planning phase focused on sectoral priorities and stock mobilisation, while the implementation and service delivery stages ensured timely, effective action. He urged participants to monitor responses, gather feedback, and share regular public updates through situation reports.

In his remarks, head of NEMA’s Sokoto Operations Office, Aliyu Kafindangi, thanked participants and especially UNICEF for their support. He encouraged stakeholders to fully commit to implementing the SOP.

Mr Kafindangi noted that through participatory discussions, stakeholders successfully mapped institutional roles, streamlined communication channels, and agreed on operational workflows for various emergency scenarios.

“The developed draft SOP reflects real-world conditions and addresses emergencies like cholera outbreaks, conflict, and floods. This comes at a crucial time, as many communities are already experiencing flood impacts,” he said.

Participants included representatives from the Federal and State Fire Services, State Emergency Management Agencies, NGOs, and the Nigeria Police Force.

Also in attendance were disaster response units of the Nigerian Army, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, and the health and agriculture ministries from the three states.

(NAN)