By Abiodun Lawal
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday conducted a full-scale flood disaster response simulation in Ogun.
Speaking at the event held at the Apo river, Owu in Abeokuta, the Director-General (DG) of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, urged stakeholders to strengthen preparedness and coordination to mitigate flood disasters.
She said the exercise was designed to enhance coordination, communication, interoperability and efficiency among stakeholders involved in disaster risk management.
The DG said the 2026 seasonal climate prediction and annual flood outlook released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) identified 31 states, including Ogun, as being at high risk of flooding.
Umar, represented by Air Commodore Usman Bature, Director, Search and Rescue, said the forecast required proactive and coordinated measures to mitigate the potential impact of flooding on lives and livelihoods.
She explained that flooding remained one of the most recurrent and devastating natural hazards in Nigeria, with far-reaching impacts on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, the environment and communities.
According to her, the increasing frequency and severity of flood events underscore the need for strengthened preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action and effective response mechanisms.
The NEMA boss cited recent flooding in parts of Kaduna metropolis following heavy rainfall, urging communities and emergency responders to remain vigilant during periods of intense rainfall.
She said the incidents reinforced the need for simulations that enable responders to test plans, identify gaps and strengthen coordination before lives and property were threatened.
“Today, we are simulating a crisis so that we can be better prepared to save lives when a real disaster occurs.
“Let me reiterate that preparedness is key to saving lives.
“The success of disaster response depends largely on how well stakeholders planned, trained, coordinated and worked together before disasters occurred.
“I urge participants to approach the exercise with professionalism, commitment and a learning mindset to identify areas requiring improvement and validate existing response arrangements,” she said.
She appreciated the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sahel Resilience Project for supporting the exercise.
Umar also thanked the Ogun government, participating agencies, development partners, community members and other stakeholders for their commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and community resilience.
In his address, Gov. Dapo Abiodun commended NEMA for organising the exercise and for its continued collaboration with the state government, saying the partnership had strengthened the state’s emergency response capacity.
Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the state government had continued to support the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) with resources, including training for personnel and local emergency responders.
According to him, the simulation provides an opportunity to practically assess the preparedness of institutions and the ability of critical stakeholders to coordinate effectively during flood emergencies.(NAN)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase