By Oboh Linus, Lafia
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has underscored proactive collaboration among agencies and stakeholders for effective response to floods and other related disasters in Nigeria
Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA, stated this during the stakeholders’ engagement on the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) 2026 in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital.
She said the campaign was
designed to drive early warning and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods during the 2026 rainy season.
Umar represented by the North Central Zonal Director, Mrs Bintu Aliyu noted that the 2026 NPRC with the theme; “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria” underscores the need for stronger institutions, clearer responsibilities and proactive collaboration across all levels
According to her, the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Outlook by the Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency predicted that 23 states, including Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory, covering 132 local government areas, fall within high flood risk zones.
“The recurrent impact of flooding in Nigeria demands an urgent and collective response. Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and public and private infrastructure worth billions of naira is damaged.
“Communities also bear the burden of injuries, displacement and loss of life savings due to unmitigated flood events and their secondary effects,” she stated.
She explained that in response to these projections, NEMA has developed the 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management Preparedness and Mitigation Framework.
She said that the framework provides a structured guide and strategies for reducing flood impacts nationwide, including capacity building for local responders and simulation and tabletop exercises.
Others are strict adherence to rainfall and flood advisories, prepositioning of relief materials in high-risk areas, infrastructural integrity assessments and development and testing of community evacuation plans.
The NEMA DG called on traditional institutions, religious organisations, women and youth groups, the media and the private sector to support NEMA in amplifying the early warning messages.
Also speaking, Benjamin Akwash, Director General of NASEMA, said that the state Government under the leadership of Gov. Abdullahi Sule was committed to building a disaster management system that protects every citizen.
He said that early warning systems have been strengthened, trained community volunteers, and improved emergency response capacity in preparations ahead of any eventuality.
“Flood, erosion, windstorms, fire, outbreaks and communal conflict have tested our communities in recent years; we have learned the hard truth: the best disaster response is preparation before it strikes.
“That is the spirit of the campaign. “Prepare, Take Action, Adapt and Thrive”, these four words may appear simple but are a complete roadmap for resilience,” Akwash emphasised.
Akwash said that the state emergency management agency under his watch would embark on the campaign in the three affected local government areas, as predicted, to sensitise the people of the areas, particularly riverine communities.
The stakeholders’ engagement had in attendance the disaster management line ministries, agencies and departments, including security agencies and local government vice chairmen. (NAN)
