By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched its 2026 flood disaster preparedness and response campaign in Rivers State following predictions of severe flooding in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The campaign was flagged off on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Port Harcourt themed, “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, NEMA Director-General, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, represented by the Acting Director of the South-South Zonal Directorate, Mr Eric Ebhodaghe, said the initiative was aimed at promoting early and coordinated action to reduce the impact of flooding across vulnerable communities.
She said the campaign seeks to strengthen disaster management institutions, improve coordination among stakeholders and encourage proactive measures to protect lives and property.
According to Umar, the 2026 flood outlook identified 22 states and the FCT, covering 132 local government areas, as high flood-risk zones, while 14 other states with 148 local government areas fall within moderate-risk areas.
She explained that NEMA had already convened experts to review the flood forecasts and develop mitigation strategies ahead of the rainy season.
The projected challenges include delayed or irregular rainfall, shorter farming seasons, excessive rainfall in some regions, prolonged dry spells and rising temperatures.
“These factors are expected to affect key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, energy, water supply, education and public wellbeing,” she said.
The NEMA boss disclosed that the agency had developed a 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to reduce flood impacts nationwide.
She said the framework includes training for local emergency responders, simulation exercises, adherence to weather advisories, prepositioning of relief materials, infrastructure assessments and community evacuation planning.
Umar added that NEMA had also mapped flood-prone communities through its early warning system and would deploy technical teams to states for grassroots sensitisation and preparedness campaigns.
She called on traditional rulers, religious organisations, women and youth groups, the media and the private sector to support efforts to spread early warning information to vulnerable communities.
Also speaking, the Head of Emergency and Disaster
Management at the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Tamunosiki Ogbanga, said the agency had begun monitoring flood-prone areas across the state.
He noted that SEMA was reviewing mitigation measures and preparing evacuation plans for residents living in vulnerable communities.
According to him, affected residents would be relocated to safer areas or temporary Internally Displaced Persons camps where necessary, while support services would also be provided.
Ogbanga reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen flood preparedness and emergency response efforts across Rivers State.
NAN
