By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that 1,243,638 Nigerians were displaced and 1,237 lives lost due to devastating floods in 2024, with over 5.2 million people affected nationwide.
This was disclosed by NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, during a stakeholder engagement on the 2025 National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign held on May 27 in Owerri, Imo State.
Umar, represented by NEMA’s Head of Partnership and Collaboration, Mr. Evan Niko, stated that the floods also damaged 1,439,296 farmlands and injured 16,469 individuals.
Speaking on the campaign’s theme, “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response,” she stressed the need for grassroots-focused disaster response and resilience building.
NEMA, she said, has mapped out preparedness and mitigation strategies based on seasonal predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
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NEMA has launched a series of initiatives, including downscaling climate predictions to stakeholders and reminding emergency actors of their roles in reducing the impact of future disasters.
Mr. Michael Ajide, a Principal Relief Officer, identified Imo as a high-risk flood state, highlighting Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema LGAs as most vulnerable.
He called for investments in drainage systems and flood-resilient infrastructure.
Mr. Nnamdi Igwe, NEMA’s Head of Operations for Abia and Imo states, advocated for the use of remote sensing for flood mapping, as well as the rehabilitation of drainage systems and improved communication channels with communities.
Healthcare officer Mr. Ekene Ahaneku of the Nigerian Red Cross Society emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with state emergency agencies to ensure efficient and localized relief delivery.
Eze Fred Nwachukwu, Deputy Chairman of the Imo Council of Traditional Rulers, pledged traditional leaders’ support in implementing disaster risk reduction measures at the grassroots level.
