By Abdullahi Lukman
Just hours after a devastating flood claimed at least 111 lives in Mokwa, Niger State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday engaged stakeholders on proactive flood preparedness and mitigation strategies.
The engagement took place during the 2025 National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NDPRC) held Friday in Minna, aimed at boosting local resilience against recurrent flooding.
Themed “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response,” the campaign brought together key actors in disaster management to develop actionable plans.
NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, represented by North-west Zonal Director Ishaya Chonoko, said the agency was working closely with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) to act on early warnings and reduce disaster risks in flood-prone areas.
“As part of our strategy, NEMA will deploy teams to all states to engage vulnerable communities with early warning messages,” Umar stated.
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“This will be done in collaboration with SEMAs, LEMCs, and community volunteers.”
She called for the involvement of traditional leaders, religious institutions, women and youth groups, and the media, noting that disaster risk reduction is a shared responsibility.
“We must take a different approach from the past to protect lives, infrastructure, and ensure socio-economic stability,” she said.
Hussaini Ibrahim, acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), described the meeting as timely and critical for improving emergency response systems and preventing future losses.
Ahmed Yumu, Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management in Niger State, stressed the campaign’s potential to curb annual flood-related damages.
Other attendees included Hussaini Isah, Head of NEMA’s Minna Operations Office; Akapo Adeboye, Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); traditional rulers; security agencies; and other key stakeholders.
