NEMA Sounds Flood Alarm, Mobilises Abia for Action

By Leonard Okachie

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on flood disasters in Abia State.
The campaign, held in Umuahia, focused on flood-related hazards and the need for early preparedness ahead of the peak of the rainy season.
Our correspondent reports that the exercise was themed, “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria.”
The initiative is aimed at reducing the impact of disasters through improved preparedness, risk reduction measures, and active community participation.

Representatives of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), security organisations, disaster management institutions, and other stakeholders attended the launch. Members of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) and community leaders also participated in the stakeholder engagement session.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, warned that the recurring incidence of flooding across the country requires urgent and collective action by all stakeholders.
Umar, who was represented by the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Mr Walson Ibarakumo, stressed that proactive preparation remains the most effective strategy for reducing flood-related losses.
“Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and infrastructure worth billions of naira is damaged as a result of flooding,” she said.
According to her, communities across the country continue to suffer injuries, displacement, destruction of property, and the loss of valuable resources during flood incidents.
The NEMA boss cited the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) as indicators of the need for heightened preparedness.
She disclosed that 23 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering 132 Local Government Areas (LGAs), had been classified as high flood-risk zones.
Umar further revealed that 14 states, comprising 148 LGAs, were categorised as moderate flood-risk areas.
She noted that NEMA’s Flood Early Warning System had generated flood vulnerability maps for communities likely to be affected, providing critical information for planning and intervention.
“These risk profiles will guide targeted planning and response efforts by governments at all levels and other relevant stakeholders,” Umar said.
She called for stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments, development partners, community leaders and residents to minimise the impact of flooding and build resilient communities.
The Executive Secretary of the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Sunday Jackson, said the state remained vulnerable to flooding and must sustain efforts toward preparedness and mitigation.
Jackson explained that seven of the state’s 17 LGAs had been forecast to experience moderate to high flood risks during the season.
“These LGAs are spread across the three senatorial zones of Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South,” he said.
He noted that the awareness campaign was being extended across the entire state because flooding had, in previous years, occurred in areas that were not initially identified as high-risk zones.
Jackson commended Governor Alex Otti for his administration’s support for disaster management initiatives and environmental protection programmes across the state.
He added that additional sensitisation and awareness campaigns would be carried out in communities across Abia to enhance public preparedness and response capacity.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director of Disaster Risk Reduction at NEMA, Dr Evans Ugo, presented key strategies and recommendations arising from the 2026 climate predictions and flood outlook.
Ugo urged SEMA to intensify public enlightenment efforts by taking the campaign to LGAs, communities, schools, markets and other public spaces to ensure wider awareness and preparedness.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Morebole, described flooding as one of the major environmental challenges confronting communities in the state.
Represented by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Uma Ibem, Morebole urged residents to actively participate in flood prevention and preparedness efforts.
“Together, we shall build a sustainable, resilient and flood-free Abia,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr Ikechukwu Oriuwa, highlighted the state government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of flooding and erosion.
He disclosed that the government had executed flood and erosion control projects at 13 locations across different parts of the state.
According to him, the projects, which span several LGAs, form part of the government’s climate adaptation and environmental sustainability measures aimed at protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure.
Following the stakeholder engagement, officials of NEMA and SEMA visited the Mgbarakuma-Ubakala community in Umuahia South Local Government Area as part of efforts to take flood preparedness messages directly to residents.
During the community sensitisation exercise, the Head of Operations of NEMA for Imo and Abia States, Mr Nnamdi Igwe, urged residents to establish a Community Emergency Management Committee (CEMC) to coordinate local disaster preparedness and response activities.
He explained that the committee would serve as a grassroots platform for disaster risk reduction, emergency communication and community resilience-building.
Igwe further advised residents to regularly clear drainage channels, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal, refrain from constructing buildings along waterways and flood plains, and comply with environmental regulations.
He also encouraged communities to identify safe evacuation routes, develop emergency response plans and pay close attention to weather forecasts and early warning messages issued by relevant authorities.
Responding on behalf of the community, the Village Head, Mr Nze Amadi, expressed appreciation to NEMA and SEMA for bringing the awareness campaign to the area.
Amadi pledged that the community would immediately commence steps toward establishing a Community Emergency Management Committee to strengthen local preparedness against flooding and other disasters.