By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a renewed warning about the high risk of severe flooding in Rivers and 11 other Nigerian states, urging immediate preparedness and cooperation from all stakeholders.
The alert was raised on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, during the launch of NEMA’s National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) in Port Harcourt.
The agency’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by Dr. Godwin Tepiko, Director of NEMA’s South-South Zonal Directorate, cited the 2025 flood forecast from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which predicts significant flooding in Rivers’ Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Andoni, and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs.
Umar emphasized the urgent need for coordinated action to mitigate potential losses of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
She noted that previous floods had caused billions of naira in damages and left many Nigerians displaced or financially ruined.
“In light of NiMet’s predictions, we’ve identified key risk factors—such as early rainfall cessation, above-normal precipitation, and dry spells—that could impact agriculture, health, transport, education, and more,” she said.
“We’ve developed vulnerability maps and strategies to guide all levels of government in reducing disaster risks.”
NEMA has launched several proactive measures, including training emergency responders, pre-positioning relief supplies, desilting drainages, inspecting infrastructure, and deploying field officers to distribute early warnings.
Umar also urged residents in at-risk areas to begin preparing immediately.
She called on traditional leaders, religious groups, women and youth organisations, and the media to support national flood mitigation efforts.
Professor Daniel Mbee, Director of the Centre for Disaster Risk Management at the University of Port Harcourt, commended NEMA’s proactive approach and urged broader stakeholder involvement, warning that the scale of flooding could lead to mass displacement.
Representatives from the health ministry, security agencies, Red Cross, civil society, and affected communities were present at the engagement session, reflecting growing concern and a united front in addressing the looming crisis.
