By Abdullahi Lukman
Victims of the 2025 flooding in Niger State have praised the Federal Government for its timely relief interventions, while calling for sustained support and long-term flood control measures.
The commendations were made in Minna during a visit by a NEMA Monitoring and Evaluation team led by Manzo Ezekiel, which assessed the impact of emergency responses across affected communities.
Beneficiaries from Rafi, Mokwa, Lavun and riverine areas along the River Niger said the distribution of food and non-food items eased hardship and helped families cope with displacement and loss of property.
They noted that NEMA’s early presence during the disaster, including rescue operations and provision of drinking water, helped save lives.
Residents also urged authorities to strengthen early warning systems, invest in embankments and improve community-level preparedness to reduce the impact of recurring floods.
Speaking during the visit, the Head of NEMA’s Minna Operations Office, Husseini Isah, said the agency recorded significant achievements in flood preparedness, mitigation and response in Niger State in 2025.
He explained that NEMA’s mandate is to coordinate disaster response efforts among federal, state and community stakeholders.
Isah said NEMA worked closely with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, security agencies and environmental bodies, relying on early warning forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
These forecasts identified Niger State as highly vulnerable due to its proximity to major rivers and tributaries.
Based on the predictions, NEMA convened technical stakeholder meetings, developed disaster management strategies, supported state preparedness efforts and intensified community sensitisation.
The agency also deployed trained personnel, rescue equipment, mobile water treatment units and evacuation teams to affected areas.
Relief materials distributed included food items, bedding, clothing, hygiene materials and temporary shelters for displaced persons.
NEMA also responded to other emergencies in the state, including floods in Mokwa, Lavun and Edati, as well as a tanker explosion in Diko.
The Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullah Baba-Arah, described NEMA as a key partner in disaster management, noting that joint interventions significantly improved support for flood victims.
He said NEMA was among the first responders during the Mokwa flood, which claimed over 200 lives, and remained on ground throughout the relief process.
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration, with additional relief materials already approved and prepositioned for distribution to affected communities.
