In a bold move to reduce the devastation caused by annual floods, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched a nationwide grassroots campaign to sensitize at-risk communities ahead of the 2025 rainy season.
The initiative, unveiled at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, involves the deployment of NEMA teams across all 36 states to deliver early warning messages and critical disaster preparedness information directly to vulnerable populations.
NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the campaign—part of the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards—marks a significant step in proactive disaster management.
“Beyond today’s stakeholders’ engagement, NEMA is deploying teams to all states of the federation to engage with flood-prone communities,” she said. “These teams will take early warning messages to the grassroots, with the support of State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Committees, and community volunteers.”
She announced that the campaign would commence immediately, led by NEMA Zonal Directorates and Operations Offices across the country.
Umar emphasized the crucial role of traditional leaders, religious organizations, women and youth groups, and the media in ensuring the timely delivery of life-saving information.
Linking the initiative to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Mrs. Umar expressed optimism that the campaign would significantly reduce the impact of recurring floods and protect livelihoods.
She also highlighted the importance of lessons learned from the 2024 floods, noting persistent gaps in emergency coordination, especially at the state and local levels.
“It’s a common misconception that NEMA must always be the first responder. All disasters are local. Communities must be empowered to act swiftly. States must not wait for NEMA. We’ve produced vulnerability maps to guide targeted interventions,” she added.
Representing the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Jummai Katagum, praised NEMA’s proactive approach and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to effective disaster management.
Dr. Idris Mohammed, NEMA’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, noted that floods and other climate-related hazards remain a major threat to Nigeria’s socio-economic stability. He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to build national resilience.
“Our goal is to develop a roadmap for risk reduction and sustainable development,” he stated.
Reinforcing the call for preventive action, Assistant Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Hammed Abodunrin, proposed embedding environmental sanitation into school programs and graduation requirements, arguing that this could foster long-term disaster mitigation.
As Nigeria braces for the challenges of the rainy season, NEMA’s grassroots strategy signals a turning point in community-based disaster preparedness—bringing the message of safety and resilience to those who need it most.
