Taraba SEMA’s Humanitarian Drive, Emergency Response Under Governor Agbu Kefas

In a state frequently confronted by humanitarian challenges, natural disasters and communal crises, the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has within the last three years of Governor Agbu Kefas‘s administration emerged as one of the leading institutions coordinating emergency response, humanitarian interventions and disaster management across Taraba State.

The agency, which is under the leadership of Dr. Echuseh Audu, the SEMA Executive Secretary, has demonstrate capacity, resilience and competency in responding to disaster and emergency situations in the state.

Suffice it to say, from flood assessments to fire outbreak interventions, humanitarian outreach, relief distribution and strategic partnerships with national and international agencies, the agency’s activities has over the past months reflected a determined effort to strengthen emergency preparedness, while extending support to vulnerable communities across the state.

One of the agency’s major humanitarian programmes was the collaboration between Taraba SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on the King Salman Humanitarian Aid initiative. The exercise focused on identifying vulnerable households and persons living with disabilities across five local government areas including Jalingo, Ardo Kola, Lau, Zing and Gassol.

The enumeration exercise, which was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Echuseh Audu, was designed to ensure that humanitarian support reached the most vulnerable groups in the society.

Forisntance in Jalingo, the exercise commenced with visits to traditional institutions, where the SEMA team sought royal blessings and community cooperation. The agency established enumeration centres at Galadima’s Palace, Mayo Gwoi Primary School and Nukkai Primary School to ensure wider coverage.

The outreach was later extended to Ardo Kola, Lau, Zing and Gassol local government areas, where community leaders and traditional rulers commended the intervention and described it as timely support for vulnerable residents. The exercise reinforced the message that “there is ability in disability,” as the agency intentionally prioritised people with special needs and vulnerable households in the humanitarian intervention. In a whole, during the enumeration, about 3,500 households wrr profiled to benefits in the King Salman humanitarian aid.

Beyond humanitarian outreach, SEMA also demonstrated rapid response capabilities in emergency situations. In one of the major incidents recorded in Jalingo, a coordinated inter-agency response involving SEMA, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, Taraba State Fire Service and Taraba Marshals successfully averted a major disaster after a petroleum tanker suffered brake failure at the ATC axis of Jalingo.

The operation, coordinated by SEMA’s Director of Administration, Mr. Sani Maisukwati, who represented the Executive Secretary, Dr. echuseh Audu, ensured that the situation was quickly brought under control without loss of lives. The injured tanker driver was immediately evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, for medical attention.

Similarly, SEMA responded swiftly to another tanker accident at Mile Six in Jalingo after a petroleum tanker overturned due to a faulty tie rod. At the course of that, rescue teams evacuated an injured victim to FMC Jalingo while safety measures were implemented to prevent a fire outbreak.

The agency’s emergency interventions also extended to fire disasters across the state, where SEMA conducted assessments at several fire incident locations including Jeka da Fari, Nana Aisha community, the NNPC filling station at Roadblock, Amana Fara’u Plastics in Saurara, Government Science Secondary School Jalingo, Wukari Local Government Secretariat and Moore Pharmaceutical Stores along Micheline Roundabout in Jalingo.

At Government Science Secondary School Jalingo, a joint SEMA and NEMA assessment revealed that 12 classrooms and a large hall with a capacity of about 1,000 students were destroyed by fire. In Wukari, no fewer than 75 offices within the local government secretariat were razed, affecting critical departments including Agriculture, Finance, Works and Primary Healthcare. The agency also assessed the devastating fire that destroyed Moore Pharmaceutical Stores and 23 adjoining shops in Jalingo, with property worth millions of naira reportedly lost.

In all the incidents, the SEMA assured victims of government support while repeatedly emphasising the importance of fire safety measures, electrical maintenance and preventive awareness.

As part of efforts to tackle recurring flooding during the rainy season, SEMA carried out post-flood assessments in affected communities across Jalingo, after heavy downpours submerged homes, roads and farmlands. Areas visited included Nasarawo Kwalbati, Mile Six, Tecnobat, Green Beach and Mayo Dassa axis.

The agency, however used the opportunity to educate residents on preventive measures, such as clearing blocked drainage systems and avoiding flood-prone areas, while also issuing public safety alerts throughout the rainy season.

In conflict-affected communities, particularly in Southern Taraba, SEMA intensified humanitarian interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and local authorities, the agency distributed relief materials to displaced persons in Manya, Kofai Ahmadu, Chanchanji and other camps in Takum and Lau local government areas.

The interventions followed violent farmer-herder clashes and communal conflicts that displaced several families. The Dr. Echuseh Audu led SEMA also conducted profiling exercises for newly displaced victims in Takum to enable targeted humanitarian response and proper documentation of affected persons.

During relief missions to the camps, Dr. Echuseh Audu reiterated Governor Agbu Kefas’ commitment to peace, security and humanitarian support for vulnerable citizens, while military authorities reaffirmed their resolve to restore lasting peace in the region.

Also, beyond emergency response, SEMA has also focused on institutional partnerships and capacity building.

The agency participated in strategic engagements with the World Bank alongside other North-East SEMA leaders to discuss disaster preparedness, early warning systems and emergency coordination.

The agency also took part in national stakeholder engagements on humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction in Abuja, as part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration between federal and state institutions.

In the health sector, Dr. Echuseh Audu, who also serves as President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Taraba chapter, championed school health initiatives, hygiene campaigns and humanitarian education programmes targeted at women and young girls.

At an event organised by The Girl Bless Foundation in Jalingo, Dr. Audu encouraged young girls to remain resilient, pursue education and prioritise safety during humanitarian emergencies, while advocating stronger protection for women and girls in crisis situations.

Her contributions to disaster management and humanitarian services have earned recognition from several organisations including the Federal Government College Wukari Old Students Association, the Association of Resident Doctors at FMC, Jalingo and media organisations which honoured Taraba SEMA as the Best Performing Agency of 2025.

Despite the commendations and public recognition, Dr. Audu’s leadership has not been without controversy. She was recently accused of diverting relief materials meant for victims, an allegation currently before the court, yet to be determined, even as supporters of the SEMA boss insisted that, the accusations are unfounded and politically motivated, maintaining that she is seeking legal redress to clear her name, the image of the agency and to protect the reputation of her principal‘s administration, Dr. Agbu Kefas.

As the legal process continues, it is believed that the agency’s numerous humanitarian interventions, emergency responses and partnerships recorded under Dr. Audu leadership reflect a commitment to public service and disaster management in Taraba State.

For many residents, the growing visibility of SEMA in emergencies, humanitarian crises and community interventions represents a shift toward a more proactive and coordinated disaster response system under the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.