Over 30 States May Experience Severe Flooding, NEMA Warns

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Zubaida Umar, has warned that more than 30 states across Nigeria may experience severe flooding during the 2026 rainy season.

Mrs Umar gave the warning during the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards held in Yola, Adamawa State.

She urged state governments to adopt proactive measures aimed at preventing and mitigating the impact of flooding ahead of peak rainfall periods.

According to her, states should enforce monthly environmental sanitation exercises, ensure regular clearing of drainage channels and waterways, strengthen State Emergency Management Agencies, and activate Local Emergency Management Committees at the grassroots level.

Mrs Umar also disclosed that NEMA had developed the 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to support coordinated disaster response efforts nationwide.

She added that the agency, through its Flood Early Warning System, had identified flood-risk profiles and produced vulnerability maps for communities considered to be at high risk.

The NEMA Director-General further appealed to traditional rulers, religious organisations, women and youth groups, the media and the private sector to support efforts to amplify early warning messages and promote community preparedness against flood disasters.

Source: Leadership