Federal Government launches flood preparedness campaign across South-East states

The Federal Government has launched an expanded flood preparedness and awareness campaign across parts of the South-East, as authorities warn of a high risk of flooding in 2026 based on national weather and hydrological forecasts.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has completed arrangements for a large-scale sensitisation exercise in flood-prone communities across Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states. The initiative is aimed at reducing vulnerability, improving early warning awareness, and strengthening community response ahead of the rainy season.

Speaking in Enugu on Sunday, the Information Officer of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, Mr Ezeani Nnanyelugo, said the campaign follows alerts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which both projected heightened rainfall activity and increased flood risk in several parts of the country in 2026.

The NiMet Seasonal Climate Prediction, released on 10 February, and the NIHSA Annual Flood Outlook published on 15 April, identified the three South-East states under NEMA’s Enugu operational zone as high-risk areas for flooding.

According to NEMA, the agency is already deploying a combination of public education strategies, community engagement programmes and technical coordination with partner institutions to ensure that early warnings translate into effective local action.

Mr Nnanyelugo said sensitisation materials have been developed in both English and Igbo languages and will be distributed to communities identified as vulnerable to flooding. These materials focus on practical flood-risk reduction measures, evacuation readiness, and safety guidance for households in high-risk areas.

He added that awareness campaigns are already ongoing across television, radio and digital platforms, with further outreach planned in the coming weeks. According to him, senior officials from NEMA’s South-East zonal office have also appeared on national broadcaster NTA to outline preparedness measures and encourage public vigilance.

The agency also disclosed plans to intensify engagement with local government authorities and community leaders, including the identification of higher ground areas that could serve as temporary shelters during flooding events. Existing internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are also expected to be reviewed to assess their readiness and capacity.

NEMA said it is working closely with NiMet and NIHSA to ensure that technical forecasts are regularly translated into practical, community-level alerts. Weekly flood outlook updates are being shared with stakeholders through WhatsApp groups and coordination meetings to improve real-time information flow.

As part of the preparedness strategy, the agency also plans to conduct simulation exercises and drills in selected flood-prone communities. These exercises are intended to test emergency response systems and improve coordination among emergency responders, local authorities, and residents.

Mr Nnanyelugo noted that NEMA is also strengthening collaboration with international humanitarian partners, including UN agencies and relief organisations, to improve disaster response capacity and support vulnerable populations across Nigeria.

He said the broader strategy includes reviewing past flood events in the region to better understand recurring patterns and reduce the scale of future losses.

Authorities have urged residents in identified risk areas to remain alert, follow official advisories, and take early precautions as the rainy season approaches.