Shettima hails starlink donation to NEMA, says it will boost disaster response

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended Starlink’s donation of 91 specialised communication devices to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), saying the intervention will significantly strengthen emergency response and disaster management across Nigeria.

Shettima said the partnership between NEMA and Starlink, one of the world’s largest satellite internet service providers, would improve the agency’s response time and coordination during emergencies, particularly in flood-prone and hard-to-reach communities.

The Vice President spoke on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while receiving a delegation of NEMA officials and Starlink representatives led by NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar.

According to him, effective communication remains critical to successful emergency interventions, noting that collaborations with technology-driven organisations such as Starlink have become increasingly important in addressing disaster situations.

“Communication is the essence of humanity,” Shettima said, adding that partnerships with Starlink would be particularly useful during emergencies and flood disasters.

He also assured the company that the donated equipment would be deployed efficiently and effectively by NEMA personnel across designated locations nationwide.

Earlier, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said the donation includes high-speed satellite internet hardware and data plans designed to support emergency response and disaster management operations across the country.

She disclosed that the equipment, comprising 91 standard and mini communication units, would help tackle critical communication challenges encountered by the agency, especially in underserved and remote areas.

According to Umar, part of the equipment will be deployed to 50 identified emergency flashpoints nationwide, while NEMA’s command-and-control centre will be upgraded to enhance coordination and response operations.

Representing Starlink, Peter Kroetger commended Nigeria’s disaster preparedness efforts and expressed satisfaction with NEMA’s operational structure, describing it as vital to the successful deployment of the company’s technology.

He noted that despite challenges associated with technology adoption and integration, Nigeria has continued to demonstrate commitment to effective disaster preparedness and emergency management.

Officials present at the meeting included NEMA’s Director of ICT, Justin Uwazuruonye; Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore B.A. Usman; and Starlink representative, Mary Owolabi.