By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has identified 11 Local Government Areas in Niger State as high flood-risk zones ahead of the 2026 rainy season.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed this on Thursday in Minna during a stakeholders’ engagement on flood preparedness.
Represented by the agency’s North Central Zonal Director, Mr. Abdulrazak Adebiye, Umar listed the affected LGAs as Agaie, Bida, Borgu, Edati, Gbako, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun, Magama, Mashegu and Mokwa.
She said the prediction was based on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
Umar warned that flooding could threaten lives, infrastructure and livelihoods if proactive measures were not taken.
She added that NEMA had developed mitigation measures, including early warning systems, evacuation plans and prepositioning of relief materials.
Also speaking, Head of Disaster Risk Reduction Unit at NEMA Minna Operations Office, Dr. Zainab Ndanusa, said Lapai LGA was projected to record the highest rainfall in the state at 1,329mm.
