The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with development partners, has adopted a multi-hazard approach and reinforced preparedness systems to address flood risks across the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SOSEMA), Prof. Abubakar Junaidu, disclosed this on Thursday at the end of a three-day workshop on emergency preparedness for the 2026 flood season.
Junaidu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building resilient systems that protect lives and livelihoods before disasters strike. He emphasised that preparedness, effective coordination, and timely early warning are essential to minimising the impact of emergencies.
He urged all stakeholders to sustain collaboration to safeguard vulnerable communities.
In his remarks, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Mr Michael Juma, commended the state government for prioritising preparedness. He stressed the need for coordinated planning, early action, and strong partnerships to reduce humanitarian impacts.
“UNICEF remains committed to supporting government-led efforts to build resilient communities, strengthen national and state preparedness systems, and ensure that vulnerable populations are better protected before, during, and after emergencies,” he said.
UNICEF Emergency Specialist, Mr Olayinka Afolabi, guided participants through practical approaches to emergency management. He highlighted the importance of updated risk assessments, robust early warning systems, clearly defined roles, coordinated assessments, logistics readiness, and simulation exercises.
Mr Tukur Abubakar of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provided technical insights on inter-sectoral coordination and led a multi-sector simulation exercise that tested emergency plans under a realistic flood scenario.
The workshop, supported by UNICEF, aimed to strengthen flood preparedness, early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and emergency response arrangements ahead of the 2026 season.
Organisers said lessons from the simulation will inform concrete follow-up actions to enhance Sokoto’s emergency preparedness and response capacity.
Participants included representatives from government ministries, emergency management agencies, security institutions, humanitarian partners, civil society organisations, and community leaders.
