By Adamu Yusuf
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a refresher training to strengthen the capacity of emergency responders in urban search and rescue operations during flooding in Kaduna.
The Head of NEMA Operations Office, Kaduna, Hajiya Halima Suleiman, disclosed this while opening a refresher course on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) for flood emergencies held at Rafin Guza, Kaduna.
Hajiya Halima said the training was aimed at improving responders’ preparedness, technical skills and coordination in handling flood-related emergencies, noting that lessons from the 2022, 2024 and 2025 flood operations had exposed new challenges facing rescue teams.
She explained that the changing nature of flood emergencies required updated skills, modern rescue techniques and effective coordination among response agencies.
The Head of Operations explained that responders were increasingly required to operate in urban settlements with submerged houses, collapsed structures, live electrical hazards and panicked residents.
She also urged State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and other first responders to strengthen collaboration and address operational gaps identified during previous interventions.
Hajiya Halima Suleiman added that the training featured technical presentations by officials of NEMA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), followed by a practical simulation exercise at Rafin Guza, a tributary of the Kaduna River.
She urged residents in flood-prone communities to remain vigilant, heed early warnings and comply with safety advisories, while also stressing the importance of responders prioritising their own safety during rescue operations.
Also speaking, Higher Technical Officer at the NIWA Kaduna Area Office, Mr Ahan Theophilus, who represented the Zonal Manager, Engineer Muhammad Bala Bello, emphasised the proper use of life jackets, particularly by communities living around waterways.
Participants included officials of the Kaduna State Fire and Public Safety Service, Federal Fire Service, National Orientation Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Red Cross Society and media practitioners.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
