By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has called on state governments across Nigeria to immediately activate preventive measures against flooding following projections that more than 30 states could experience severe flooding during the 2026 rainy season.
Mrs. Umar made the appeal on Wednesday in Yola during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as part of activities marking the stakeholders’ engagement and official flag-off of the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards.
The NEMA Director General stressed the need for early action and coordinated disaster preparedness to minimise the devastating humanitarian and economic consequences often associated with annual flooding across the country.
She outlined several urgent measures expected from state governments, including the reintroduction and strict enforcement of monthly environmental sanitation exercises, continuous clearing of drainages and waterways, strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies, and the establishment and operationalisation of Local Emergency Management Committees at the grassroots level.
Mrs. Umar disclosed that NEMA had already developed the 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework in response to predictions by relevant meteorological and hydrological agencies, noting that the framework would serve as a strategic guide for nationwide flood prevention and coordinated emergency response efforts.
She further revealed that through NEMA’s Flood Early Warning System, the Agency had mapped out flood-prone communities and developed vulnerability profiles for high-risk areas to support targeted disaster risk reduction planning by Federal, State, and Local Governments.
The DG NEMA also called on traditional rulers, religious bodies, youth and women groups, media organisations, and private sector stakeholders to support the Agency in amplifying flood early warning messages and strengthening community preparedness ahead of peak rainfall periods.
Responding, Governor Fintiri commended NEMA for what he described as a proactive and strategic approach to disaster management, particularly the ongoing sensitisation and early warning campaigns designed to prepare communities before the onset of heavy rains.
The governor assured that the Adamawa State Government would carefully study and implement the recommendations presented by the NEMA Director General to reduce the impact of flooding and safeguard lives and property across the state.
He also expressed appreciation for the continued support and emergency interventions provided by NEMA to Adamawa State during previous disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
Mrs. Umar later addressed participants at the official flag-off ceremony, where she urged stakeholders to take ownership of disaster preparedness efforts and intensify awareness campaigns within their various communities.
The event attracted officials of the Adamawa and Taraba State Emergency Management Agencies, local government representatives, volunteers, relevant stakeholder agencies, and members of the media.
