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Photo shows L-R: Director General, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, Engr. AbdulRahman Mohammed; Director, Humanitarian Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hajiya Jummai Katagum; and Director General, NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar during the stakeholders engagement campaign. |
In a strategic effort to reduce the devastating effects of expected floods during the 2025 rainy season, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched a nationwide campaign by deploying dedicated staff to all states.
These teams are tasked with engaging vulnerable communities directly to raise awareness and enhance flood preparedness.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed this on Thursday, May 15, 2025, during a stakeholders’ engagement on the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards, held in Abuja.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, according to a press release signed by Manzo Ezekiel, Head, NEMA Press Unit, also urged State governments to make adequate preparations and provide safer grounds for those who may be affected by the predicted floods this year.
She stated, “Beyond today’s stakeholders’ engagement, NEMA is deploying teams to all states of the federation to engage with flood-prone communities. These teams will take early warning messages to the grassroots, with the support of State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, and community volunteers.
“The NEMA Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices across the nation will simultaneously drive this engagement process at both the state and community levels, starting today, Thursday, May 15, 2025.
“Previously, we have consistently engaged the media—both mainstream and social—in disseminating NEMA’s early warning messages to the public.”
She emphasized the critical role of traditional institutions, religious organizations, women and youth groups, and the media in ensuring early warning messages reach vulnerable populations.
The DG NEMA said that disaster management globally is based on community participation and inclusivity, ensuring no one is left behind.
The NEMA boss highlighted the need for collaboration between agencies and explained that efforts have already been made to engage state governments, assess locations, and identify safe grounds for possible evacuation.
She also noted that lessons from 2024 are being applied in 2025, though challenges remain, particularly in coordination at the state and local emergency response levels.
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| Photo shows cross section of participants during the stakeholders engagement campaign |
She reiterated that disaster response should begin at the community level and not solely rely on the national agency. Communities, she said, must be empowered and trained to respond effectively.
“It is a common notion that whenever there’s a disaster, everyone expects NEMA to be the first responder. That should not be the case. All disasters are local. Communities must be empowered to take charge,” she said, among other things.
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, in a goodwill message delivered by the Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Jummai Katagum, commended NEMA for its proactive efforts and affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to timely disaster management.
In his opening remarks, the Director of the Disaster Risk Reduction Department at NEMA, Dr Idris Mohammed, stated that floods and other hydrometeorological hazards continue to pose significant threats to Nigeria’s economic, social, and environmental well-being.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders to collaborate on strategies for mitigating disaster risks.
Also speaking, Assistant Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hammed Abodunrin, emphasized the importance of proactive disaster prevention and community engagement, particularly among students.
He suggested integrating community service, such as environmental sanitation, into academic programmes and certificates, noting that this could significantly contribute to disaster reduction, including flooding.
By delivering vital early warning messages and practical disaster readiness guidance at the grassroots level, NEMA aims to empower local populations to take proactive measures against potential flooding.
The agency also calls on state governments and local communities to strengthen their preparedness plans to safeguard lives and property.
This initiative underscores NEMA’s commitment to proactive disaster risk management and community resilience in the face of seasonal flooding threats.
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