By Nkechi Eze
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has mobilised government agencies, security institutions, humanitarian organisations and development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s response to ongoing flooding, emerging public health threats, including Ebola Virus Disease and cholera, and the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.
The mobilisation followed the National Emergency Coordination Forum (NECF), convened by NEMA on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at Ajuji Greenwich Hotel, Abuja, to review ongoing flood response efforts, identify operational gaps and harmonise preparedness measures against emerging disaster risks.
According to an official statement by NEMA, the Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed that the Agency’s flood dashboard had recorded 673,350 persons affected across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 states as of October 20, 2026. Of the affected population, 214,997 persons had been displaced, while 245 deaths had been recorded.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Godwin Topikor, Umar said the scale of the flooding highlighted the urgent need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, effective coordination of ongoing interventions and targeted assistance for affected communities.
She called for heightened disease surveillance, timely information sharing and coordinated preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease and cholera, particularly in flood-affected communities where displacement, poor sanitation and limited access to essential services could increase public health risks.
On the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon, the NEMA chief urged relevant institutions to harmonise climate forecasts, assess potential hazards and translate early warning information into practical anticipatory actions to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
She emphasised that effective disaster management required a proactive, multisectoral approach built around early warning, preparedness, risk reduction, timely response and sustainable recovery.
Umar further urged participating institutions to deepen operational collaboration, avoid duplication of efforts and prioritise vulnerable populations, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The forum featured technical presentations and discussions on the prevailing flood situation, updates on Ebola Virus Disease and cholera, the anticipated El Niño phenomenon and its hydrological implications, as well as global and regional climate outlooks.
Participants also examined sectoral preparedness and response priorities covering food security, healthcare, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, protection, emergency shelter, logistics, security and information management.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Tony Ephraim, stressed the importance of effective coordination among emergency management stakeholders.
He encouraged participants to identify operational gaps, improve information sharing and develop actionable recommendations to strengthen national disaster preparedness and response.
Institutions represented at the meeting included the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Environment, Information and National Orientation, and Education; the Armed Forces of Nigeria; the Nigeria Police Force; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency; the Nigerian Meteorological Agency; and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Others included the Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Society for Family Health, World Meteorological Organization and other humanitarian and development partners.
The forum provided a platform for stakeholders to harmonise response strategies, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and improve national readiness to address ongoing emergencies and anticipated climate-related and public health risks across Nigeria.
