By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken its grassroots disaster preparedness drive to Dukku, a riverine community on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, conducting a large-scale flood simulation exercise aimed at strengthening local resilience ahead of the 2025 flood season.
Dukku, identified as one of the high-risk communities in Kebbi State, sits along a river channel that significantly heightens its vulnerability to seasonal flooding. Experts have warned that the combination of intense rainfall and the possible overflow of dams in the region could pose serious threats to lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure if not proactively addressed.
The exercise, organised in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, was designed to test existing flood response plans, improve coordination among stakeholders, and raise public awareness of potential hazards. It forms part of NEMA’s broader disaster preparedness strategy targeting flood-prone areas across Nigeria, particularly in the North West and North Central zones.
Leading the simulation was the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who underscored the urgent need for readiness, coordination, and collective action in mitigating disaster impacts. “As we all know, flooding remains one of the most recurrent and devastating natural disasters in Nigeria, with far-reaching impacts on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and communities,” she said. “We are simulating a crisis today so that we are better prepared to save lives when it becomes a reality. Let me reiterate that preparedness saves lives.”
Mrs. Umar noted that beyond testing response capabilities, the simulation aimed to identify gaps in existing mechanisms and strengthen multi-agency collaboration across the region. She stressed that the lessons drawn from the exercise would guide improvements in communication, operational efficiency, and community engagement during real emergencies.
The flood drill brought together critical first responders, including military Disaster Response Units (DRUs), the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. Each agency played a role in the coordinated evacuation, rescue, and relief operations staged during the exercise, simulating real-life scenarios that could occur during severe flooding.
In a symbolic gesture of support to the host community, Mrs. Umar also presented life jackets to residents of Dukku to enhance their personal safety in the event of a flood. She assured locals that NEMA would continue to work closely with state authorities and other partners to ensure no community is left without early warning or the tools to protect themselves.
For residents of Dukku, the simulation was more than just a drill, it was a timely reminder of the dangers that the rainy season could bring and the critical role of preparedness in safeguarding lives and livelihoods. With the flood season fast approaching, stakeholders hope that the lessons from this exercise will translate into faster, more coordinated responses when nature tests the community’s resilience.
