NEMA sounds flood warning, calls for stronger disaster preparedness

By Leonard Okachie

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on flood disaster.

The campaign, held in Umuahia, focused on flood-related hazards and early preparations ahead of the rainy season.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise carried the theme, ‘Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria’.

The initiative aims to reduce disaster impacts through improved preparedness, risk reduction and community involvement.

Representatives of ministries, departments and agencies attended the launch alongside security agencies and disaster management stakeholders.

Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) and community leaders also participated in the stakeholder engagement.

NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, warned that recurring floods require urgent and collective action.

Umar, represented by South East Zonal Director, Mr Walson Ibarakumo, said early preparation was essential.

“Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and infrastructure worth billions of naira is damaged,” she said.

She added that communities suffer injuries, displacement and loss of valuable resources during flooding incidents.

Umar cited the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by NIMET and the Annual Flood Outlook by NIHSA.

She disclosed that 23 states, including the FCT, covering 132 LGAs, are at high flood risk.

The NEMA boss also said 14 states with 148 LGAs were classified as moderate flood risk areas.

She noted that NEMA’s Flood Early Warning System had produced vulnerability maps for affected communities.

“These risk profiles will guide targeted planning by governments and relevant stakeholders,” Umar said.

She called for stronger collaboration among federal, state and local authorities to reduce flood impacts.