By Chimezie Anaso

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a flood disaster response simulation exercise for the Southeast ahead of anticipated 2025 flooding in the zone.

The exercise, codenamed “Ide Mmiri Odachi”  was held at Naval Outpost in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the exercise marked the end of a 4-day capacity training organised for stakeholders to arm them with emergency response skills.

Mrs Zubaida Umar, the Director General of NEMA said the training for stakeholders was to define their roles and responsibilities in mitigating risks and effective response during emergencies at the grassroots level.

Umar who described the simulation exercise as successful said it was a demonstration of the proactiveness of the agency to raise public awareness about the predicted floods.

She said Abia, Anambra and Imo have been identified as high-risk flood-prone states in the Southeast region in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by NIMET and the Annual Flood Outlook.

She said the three states were already facing flood threat, adding that the simulation tested the agency’s plans and protocols, exposed gaps and strengthened their multi-agency collaboration as well as enabled them to identify areas for improvement

“As we all know, flooding remains one of the most recurrent and devastating natural disasters in Nigeria with far-reaching impacts on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and communities.

“The recent flood disaster witnessed at Mokwa in Niger State attests to this fact.

“Today, we are simulating a crisis, so that we are better prepared to save lives when it becomes a reality. Let me reiterate that preparedness saves lives.

“Our ability to anticipate, respond and recover quickly from disasters depends largely on how well we train and work together before disaster strikes,” she said.

In his speech, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra appreciated the NEMA boss for the agency’s commitment to disaster mitigation in Anambra and the choice of Ogbaru as location for the simulation exercise for the region.

Soludo, represented by Chief Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, said the threats posed by flooding in the state was real and escalating due to climate change, poor urban planning, and other environmental factors.

He commended the Nigerian Navy for making available its outpost as a source of support and reassurance for the people in Ogbaru during disasters.

According to the governor, disaster response, especially in hard-to-reach riverine areas, demands robust logistical and technical capacity.

“We recognise the critical role of our armed forces in this regard.

“The entire communities in Anambra, particularly in the riverine belts, are displaced every year, livelihoods destroyed, infrastructure eroded, and lives tragically lost,” he said.

On his part, Navy Capt. MD Jarma, Commanding Officer Naval Outpost Onitsha, said the Navy is better equipped for disaster response.

He said the simulation was both successful and an eye opener adding that lessons had been learnt and the challenges identified would be worked on.

NAN reports that the exercise was held in collaboration with the State and Local Government Emergency Management Agencies, the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Red Cross, Navy, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi