NEMA Urges States to Act Fast as Flood Risks Escalate

By Nasiru Abdullahi 

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a strong warning to state governments across Nigeria, urging them to urgently activate and implement contingency plans to mitigate the looming threat of flooding in the country.

This call comes amid forecasts of intensified rainfall and rising water levels in major rivers, raising fears of a repeat of the devastating floods that affected over 3.2 million Nigerians in 2022.

According to NEMA, flood-prone states such as Lagos, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Niger, and Taraba must particularly ramp up preparedness efforts. Other vulnerable areas include coastal and low-lying communities along the banks of the River Niger and Benue.

NEMA advised states to activate early warning systems, organize simulation exercises, conduct public sensitization campaigns, clear drainages, and strengthen emergency response coordination at local levels.

“We are in the peak of the rainy season. The time to act is now. Contingency planning and preparedness must be prioritized to avert disaster,” the agency said in a statement.

The agency’s Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed, warned that failure to act could result in catastrophic losses, especially in states yet to implement proactive disaster risk reduction strategies. He emphasized that NEMA has already deployed rapid response teams and is working with the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to monitor flood alerts.

As water levels continue to rise, residents in at-risk areas are advised to stay alert and heed warnings from local authorities.

In 2022, floods claimed hundreds of lives, displaced over 1.4 million people, and damaged farmlands and infrastructure worth billions of naira. NEMA insists such tragedies are preventable with timely and coordinated action.

The agency reiterated its commitment to supporting states with technical assistance and emergency supplies but emphasized that state and local governments must take the lead in protecting lives and livelihoods.

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