The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has established a central hub for monitoring and coordinating flood response across the country with the activation of its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for the 2026 rainy season.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the collection, processing and dissemination of reliable flood-related information to improve national preparedness, facilitate early response and enhance coordination among agencies involved in disaster management.
Speaking during the inauguration of members of the Centre at the NEMA Headquarters in Abuja, the Director General of the Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the NEOC would serve as the country’s central platform for monitoring flood developments and supporting coordinated response efforts throughout the rainy season.
She explained that the Centre would harmonise information from relevant sources and provide timely, accurate and reliable data to support planning, decision-making and the deployment of emergency resources to vulnerable communities.
Mrs. Umar urged members of the Centre to discharge their responsibilities with diligence, professionalism and commitment, stressing that credible information remains vital for effective management of flooding and other climate-induced disasters.
According to her, the establishment of the NEOC forms part of NEMA’s proactive strategy to strengthen national preparedness and improve collaboration among stakeholders in responding to the anticipated impacts of the 2026 rainy season.
She added that timely access to verified information would enable authorities to take early action, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and minimise the impact of flooding across affected communities.
Also speaking at the inauguration, NEMA’s Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Tony Ephraim, assured the Director General that members of the Centre would work diligently to ensure effective monitoring, data collection, analysis and information management in support of coordinated responses to flood emergencies and other climate-related hazards.
The National Emergency Operations Centre is expected to function throughout the rainy season as the country’s central flood monitoring and information management hub, supporting collaboration among emergency responders and other critical stakeholders in mitigating the impact of floods nationwide.
