The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has inaugurated a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing disaster-related deaths and damage ahead of the 2026 rainy season.
The campaign was officially launched in Calabar during the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) 2026, themed “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria.”
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the initiative was designed to promote early, coordinated action to safeguard lives and livelihoods, especially in flood-prone communities across the country.
She noted that recurring flooding continues to cause widespread destruction annually, including damage to infrastructure, loss of livelihoods and displacement of residents.
According to NEMA data, floods killed 241 people in 2025, a decline from 321 deaths recorded in 2024, while hundreds of thousands of Nigerians were affected.
The data further showed that 433,578 persons were affected in 2025, 144,790 were displaced, 839 injured, 52,592 houses damaged, and 74,767 acres of farmland destroyed.
Umar said the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Flood Outlook identified 33 states, including Cross River State and the Federal Capital Territory, as high-risk flood zones.
“Following this, NEMA convened an expert review meeting in April to assess forecasts and develop a preparedness and mitigation framework to reduce flood impacts nationwide,” she said.
She urged state governments and residents in vulnerable areas to identify evacuation routes and safe shelters in advance, while strengthening community-level preparedness efforts.
The NEMA boss also called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media and private sector actors to support nationwide awareness campaigns on disaster risk reduction.
As part of the programme, Umar paid a courtesy visit to Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, where she appealed for stronger proactive measures to address flooding risks.
Governor Otu commended NEMA’s preparedness efforts and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with the agency to enhance disaster response systems.
Stakeholders present at the event included emergency agencies, the military, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, farmers’ associations, traditional rulers and religious organisations.
