National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warns that more than 30 states are at risk of severe flooding during the 2026 rainy season, urging governments at all levels to activate preventive measures ahead of the rains.
The Director-General of the agency, Mrs Zubaida Umar, issued the warning during a visit to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, in Yola, as part of activities marking the launch of the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards.
She said states must urgently begin proactive actions, including clearing drainages and waterways, enforcing monthly environmental sanitation, and strengthening emergency management structures at state and local government levels.
Mrs Umar said NEMA has rolled out a 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to coordinate national flood prevention efforts.
She explained that the agency’s Flood Early Warning System identifies high-risk communities and provides vulnerability maps to guide preparedness actions.
She also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, women’s organisations, the media, and the private sector to support awareness campaigns and strengthen community readiness.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri commended NEMA for its proactive approach to disaster preparedness and assured that the Adamawa State Government would implement recommendations aimed at reducing the impact of flooding.
The governor also appreciated the agency’s continued interventions and support to the state during emergencies and disaster situations.
2025 Flooding
Nigeria experienced one of its most severe flood seasons in 2025, with widespread impacts across multiple states, driven by intense rainfall, poor drainage systems, dam releases, and climate-related vulnerabilities.
Flooding began around April 2025 and intensified through the rainy season, affecting at least 25 to 30 states Nationwide
More than 200,000 people were impacted, with tens of thousands displaced, while thousands of homes, farmlands, roads, and bridges were destroyed. According to NEMA
The deadliest incidents were recorded in central and northern Nigeria, including major flooding in Adamawa and Niger State’s Mokwa area, where hundreds of deaths were reported in a single event, making it one of the country’s worst flood disasters in recent years.
RN
