The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) convened a high-level technical session to review the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), part of its renewed strategy to shift Nigeria’s disaster management from reactive response to proactive preparedness.
The meeting, held in collaboration with the Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF), also featured the presentation of the 2025 After-Action Review (AAR), described as a roadmap bridging scientific data and field-level implementation.
In her opening remarks, NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar highlighted the 2026 rainfall and temperature projections released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), stressing that they must guide decision-making at all government levels.
“The theme of this meeting is ‘Strengthening Multisectoral Preparedness and Early Action for Climate-Related Disasters in Nigeria.’ It underscores the importance of timely, coordinated, and evidence-based action,” Umar said.
Mr. Dapo Akingboade, NEMA’s Assistant Director of Planning, reported a sharp decline in flooding impacts in 2025 compared to 2024. The number of affected persons dropped from over five million to approximately 500,000, while fatalities fell from over 1,000 to 241. He attributed the improvement to early warnings, community awareness, simulation exercises, and proactive coordination.
Akingboade noted remaining challenges, including poor drainage maintenance, delayed evacuations, and gaps in rural early warning coverage, calling for stronger state-level planning and engagement with local leaders.
NiMet’s Assistant Chief Meteorologist, Abubakar Sadiq, presented the 2026 SCP, noting that climate patterns will transition from a “weak La Niña” to a “neutral phase” in the Pacific. Rainfall predictions now reach 74% accuracy, with efforts underway to improve forecasting through automation.
Representatives from technical and humanitarian partners pledged support for the 2026 cycle. John Gbadegesin of NIHSA announced the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook will be released on April 15. NigerianRed Cross Coordinator Timothy Yohana confirmed deployment readiness of 800,000 volunteers, while Brig.-Gen. Julius Ogbobe reaffirmed military support for coordinated rescue operations.
