Mrs Zubaida Umar, Managing Director, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has highlighted the need for stakeholder collaboration to mitigate flood impacts through early warnings.
Umar made the remark at the stakeholder engagement event organised by NEMA to raise awareness and sensitise communities on flood mitigation in Uyo on Wednesday.
The awareness was part of the strategies by the agency to boost the readiness of the state ahead of this year’s flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, while speaking at the event said the move became necessary to save lives and livelihoods during the 2025 rainy season.
Represented by Mr Ugwu Chudi, Deputy Director, Department of Audit, NEMA Headquarters, Umar emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in carrying out early warnings.
The director general, however, sympathised with the victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger.
She said: “Disaster management across the world is predicated on community participation and due consideration to diversity of persons, leaving no one behind.
“We must work together to take the right early warning to specific groups to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in our various communities.”
In her remark, Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi said the state government had been consistent in its sensitisation and routine de-silting of gutters to prevent flooding.
Eyakenyi commended NEMA for the sensitisation, adding that the state government has chosen disaster prevention over casualty management.
“The most effective way of managing disaster is preventing its occurrence.
“We must be absolutely serious about everything discussed here and commit ourselves to diligent implementation,” Eyakenyi said.
The event brought together representatives from various federal agencies and the 31 Local Government Areas and other stakeholders.
NAN
