By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has intensified nationwide consultations with state governments on proactive flood mitigation measures ahead of the 2026 rainy season, with Adamawa State emerging as one of the critical focal points in the agency’s preparedness drive.
Mrs. Umar made this known during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, at the Government House in Yola, where she led discussions on strengthening disaster preparedness mechanisms in anticipation of projected flooding across several parts of the country.
The visit formed part of NEMA’s ongoing strategic stakeholders’ engagement with governors and critical institutions aimed at mobilising early preventive actions against the looming flood threats predicted for the 2026 rainy season.
Speaking during the engagement, the NEMA Director General expressed concern over forecasts indicating that about 30 states across the federation fall within moderate and high flood-risk zones, stressing that the situation demands urgent, coordinated and proactive responses from all tiers of government.
Mrs. Umar emphasised that disaster management should not be approached as an emergency response issue alone, but as a comprehensive preventive and risk-reduction responsibility requiring sustained environmental management, institutional strengthening and grassroots mobilisation.
She noted that lessons from previous flooding incidents across the country have shown that delayed interventions often result in devastating humanitarian consequences, including loss of lives, destruction of homes and farmlands, displacement of communities, outbreak of diseases and severe economic disruptions.
The NEMA boss therefore urged state governments to immediately activate practical measures capable of reducing the vulnerability of communities to flood disasters before the peak of the rainy season.
Among the key recommendations presented during the meeting were the reintroduction and strict enforcement of monthly environmental sanitation exercises, regular desilting and clearing of drainages and waterways, strengthening the operational capacities of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), and ensuring the inauguration and functionality of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) at the grassroots level.
Mrs. Umar stressed that blocked drainage systems, poor waste disposal practices and weak local emergency structures remain major factors contributing to recurring flood disasters in many parts of the country.
She further underscored the importance of community-based disaster preparedness frameworks, noting that effective emergency management begins at the local level where early warning dissemination, evacuation planning and rapid response coordination are most critical.
According to her, empowering Local Emergency Management Committees would significantly improve early response capabilities and help reduce the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations.
The NEMA Director General also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state authorities, traditional institutions, community leaders, environmental agencies and humanitarian stakeholders in tackling the anticipated flood risks.
She commended the Adamawa State Government for its openness to collaboration and proactive disposition towards disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response coordination.
Responding, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri assured the NEMA delegation of the state government’s readiness to swiftly implement the recommendations and intensify complementary interventions aimed at protecting residents and critical infrastructure from the impact of flooding.
The governor acknowledged the seriousness of the predictions and reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through preventive environmental management and strengthened emergency response systems.
He further pledged sustained collaboration with NEMA and other relevant agencies to ensure that communities across Adamawa State are adequately sensitised and prepared ahead of the peak rainfall period.
The engagement in Yola is part of broader nationwide consultations being undertaken by NEMA as the Federal Government moves to reduce disaster vulnerabilities and improve national resilience against climate-related emergencies expected during the 2026 rainy season.
