In a proactive effort to manage flood risks, Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has activated all Zonal, Territorial, and Operational offices nationwide. These offices are to collaborate with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) in their respective areas to conduct rescue operations and assess flood situations.
A statement from NEMA on Sunday listed the locations of its offices: Lagos, Ibadan, Ekiti, Abuja, Minna, Jos, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Edo, Uyo, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Yola, and Gombe. At its headquarters, NEMA operates a toll-free emergency contact line, 0800CALLNEMA (080022556362), and utilizes all its social media platforms to receive feedback from the public.
The statement read, “Search and rescue officers have been deployed across the states, providing essential support in coordination with SEMAs and other stakeholders in recently flooded areas and communities. The agency is conducting a rapid assessment to determine any further assistance required in the impacted communities.”
NEMA emphasized that their rescue efforts complement ongoing sensitization and awareness activities to alert the public of predicted floods and necessary preventive actions. On Wednesday, July 3rd, Umar visited Anambra State for flood advocacy, discussing preventive measures with the Deputy Governor, religious, and community leaders. She has conducted similar advocacy visits across various states and plans to continue these efforts.
“As part of its pre-rainy season flood prevention advocacy, the agency engaged the media with flood sensitization jingles and held an emergency coordination forum with critical stakeholders to prepare for the predicted disaster,” the statement said. “NEMA also communicated with all state governments, providing a list of at-risk local governments and outlining necessary actions to avert or mitigate the disaster.”
The agency noted that several states have acknowledged the effectiveness of their early actions in response to NEMA’s warnings. NEMA reiterated its flood warning, urging all stakeholders, including state and local governments, to be prepared for the intensifying rainy season.
