The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government, on Wednesday inaugurated the 2026 National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) team on flood disasters and related hazards.
It was reported that the theme of the campaign is “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria.”
Speaking at the inauguration in Yola, NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, said the campaign aims to drive early and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods during the 2026 rainy season.
According to her, the theme underscores the need for stronger institutions, clear responsibilities, and proactive collaboration across all levels of government.
Umar noted that the recurrent impact of flooding in Nigeria demands an urgent and collective response.
“Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and public and private infrastructure worth billions of naira is damaged. Communities also bear the burden of injuries, displacement, and the loss of life savings due to unmitigated flood events,” she said.
She added that according to the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, 33 states including the FCT fall within high flood risk zones.
Umar said NEMA convened an expert review meeting to assess the implications of the forecast, noting that the analysis indicates potential impacts on key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, energy, water supply, education, and overall public well-being.
The Director General called on all stakeholders to amplify early warning messages to prevent avoidable flood disasters, stressing that it is everybody’s responsibility.
In her address, Dr Celine Laori, Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), appreciated NEMA for choosing Adamawa to inaugurate the campaign. She urged traditional and religious leaders to spread the message across their communities.
Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wisely, represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Special Duties, Sunday Peter, urged NEMA to place Adamawa on the frontline for disaster support due to the recurrence of disasters in the state. He also emphasised the need to reach people at the grassroots with awareness messages.
