The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that strengthening disaster risk governance is a shared responsibility; therefore, the need to focus more on prevention than reaction.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said this at the flag off of the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards in Anambra State at the Deputy Governor’s Conference Hall, Government House, Awka on Friday.
Represented by the South-East Zonal Director, Mr. Walson Ibarakumo, the director-general noted that the campaign was part of the Agency’s nationwide efforts to downscale flood early warning information to the affected communities and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
She noted that the formal launch of the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign for flood and related hazards in Anambra State marked the beginning of a series of targeted flood mitigation efforts, and for all stakeholders to be carried along.
She further noted that the campaign is designed to drive early and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihood during the 2026 rainy season. The NEMA boss said that “today’s engagement will strengthen preparedness, reduce the impact of recurrent floods and safeguard livelihoods.”
Earlier in his opening address, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, appreciated all stakeholders in attendance, including NEMA, for the stakeholders’ engagement. Ibezim commended NEMA for the timely flag-off of the flood downscaling programme to identify flood-prone areas and communities in the state.
“I must commend the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, for a comprehensive disaster risk management aimed at reducing death and losses in the state,” he said. The deputy governor said that flooding in the state had become an annual occurrence.
He mentioned some of the long-term plans of the state, which included: building dams, dredging rivers, building retention walls, and supporting high-risk flood areas with solar lights for effective management of IDP camps, among others.
During the event, a technical presentation on disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies on the outcome of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) was delivered by Dr. Evans Ugoh.
Ugoh highlighted the high and moderate flood risk Local Government Areas (LGAs) and communities in the state. He encouraged all participants to take early preparedness actions to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance mitigation, both structural and non-structural measures, including organising a simulation exercise and sensitisation programme.
The state commissioners, Local Government Chairmen, and other stakeholders in attendance made significant inputs during the meeting. The stakeholders’ engagement and flag-off were successful, as it was observed that Anambra State is better positioned to reduce flood deaths and losses in 2026.
