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NEMA Steps Up Flood Response Efforts Across Nigeria
NEMA Steps Up Flood Response Efforts Across Nigeria
By: Abdulkadir Ibrahim
In the wake of recent devastating floods that have severely impacted communities across Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has intensified its efforts to mitigate the effects and provide essential relief to those affected. The scale of the disaster is significant, with 27 states affected, over 227,000 people displaced or impacted, 32,837 houses destroyed, and 16,488 hectares of farmland ravaged, according to data from NEMA’s Emergency Operations Centre.
This latest flood disaster underscores the vulnerability of many communities across the country to extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. NEMA’s rapid response is crucial in providing immediate relief and preventing further loss of life and property.
Proactive Measures and Timely Response
NEMA’s swift and decisive response to these flooding incidents highlights the agency’s commitment to disaster preparedness and proactive crisis management. Even before the floods struck, NEMA had taken steps to ensure a rapid response by mobilizing search and rescue teams, and placing all its zonal and operational offices on high alert. This foresight and readiness were essential in mitigating the immediate impacts of the floods, allowing for a quick deployment of resources and personnel to the most affected areas.
One of the key aspects of NEMA’s response strategy has been its collaboration with the various State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs). By working closely with state governments, NEMA has been able to conduct comprehensive assessments of the flood’s impact and coordinate the deployment of relief materials. These efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that assistance reaches those in need without delay.
The relief items stockpiled for immediate deployment by NEMA include essential supplies such as food, clothing, medical supplies, and temporary shelter. These items are critical in providing immediate support to displaced individuals and families, helping them to stabilize their situation as they begin the process of rebuilding their lives. The agency’s ability to rapidly mobilize and deliver these resources reflects its operational efficiency and the importance of its preparedness measures.
Public Awareness and Preventive Measures
While immediate relief efforts are essential, NEMA is also focused on long-term strategies to reduce the impact of future flooding incidents. One of the core components of this strategy is public education. NEMA has intensified its public sensitization campaigns, which are designed to raise awareness about the importance of solid waste management and the need to keep drainages and waterways clear. Blocked waterways are a major cause of flooding, and by addressing this issue, NEMA hopes to reduce the frequency and severity of future floods.
Grassroots awareness programs have been rolled out across the country, targeting communities that are particularly vulnerable to flooding. These programs involve workshops and advocacy campaigns aimed at educating residents on how to protect their environment and reduce the risk of floods. NEMA is also working with local governments and community leaders to promote the adoption of best practices in waste management and environmental stewardship.
Director General Zubaida Umar has been at the forefront of these efforts, emphasizing the critical role that communities play in flood prevention and response. She has urged communities living along waterways and in other high-risk areas to take proactive measures by relocating to safer, higher grounds ahead of the peak rainy season. Such preemptive actions are vital in reducing the potential for casualties and significant property damage.
Call to Action for Stakeholders
In addition to its efforts at the community level, NEMA is calling on all stakeholders involved in disaster management to remain vigilant and prepared to activate their flood response plans at short notice. With the increasing frequency of flood incidents, it is essential that SEMAs, local governments, and community leaders are ready to respond quickly and effectively to protect lives and property.
Director General Umar has also addressed concerns from farmers regarding the temporary dry season being experienced in some states. She assured them that this situation is temporary and is in line with the seasonal climate predictions released earlier this year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). She advised farmers to remain calm and continue their agricultural activities, while staying informed about weather updates to ensure they can take appropriate action when necessary.
Commitment to Efficient Disaster Management
NEMA’s ongoing efforts to address the recent floods and prevent future disasters highlight the agency’s unwavering commitment to efficient disaster management in Nigeria. The agency’s proactive approach, which includes early preparedness, public education, and strong collaboration with state and local governments, serves as a model for disaster management practices across the country.
As Nigeria continues to face the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, NEMA’s work is more important than ever. The agency’s ability to coordinate timely responses, enhance public awareness, and foster collaboration among various stakeholders is critical in mitigating the effects of natural disasters and ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens.
NEMA’s efforts also underscore the importance of community involvement in disaster management. By empowering communities with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves, NEMA is helping to build a more resilient nation, capable of withstanding the increasing threat of natural disasters.
Looking Ahead
The challenges of managing natural disasters in Nigeria are complex and multifaceted, requiring a coordinated and sustained effort from all levels of government, as well as the active participation of the public. NEMA’s proactive stance, combined with its emphasis on preparedness, education, and collaboration, will be crucial in addressing these challenges and reducing the impact of future disasters.
As the rainy season continues, NEMA will remain vigilant, ready to respond to new flood incidents as they arise. The agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property, coupled with its focus on long-term disaster prevention, positions it as a key player in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to manage and mitigate the risks associated with natural disasters.
*Abdulkadir Ibrahim
Press Unit NEMA Headquarters Abuja
16th August 2024
NEMA Steps Up Flood Response Efforts Across Nigeria
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
By: Zagazola Makama
A Fulani herder has been shot dead and a vigilante injured following a confrontation between herders and security operatives in Jakusko Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a group of Fulani herdsmen were allegedly destroying farmlands in Lafiya, Saban, Garin, Sara, Jaba and Muguram villages.
According to him, a joint patrol team comprising the police, Joint Task Force (JTF) and vigilantes was immediately deployed to the affected areas.
“Upon arrival at the scene, one of the herders attacked a vigilante, Saidu Yau of Lafiya village, with a machete, inflicting a deep cut on his left thigh.
“The same herder also attempted to attack a soldier, Private Adamu Ismail, attached to the JTF. The soldier, in self-defence, fired at the attacker, leading to his death,” said the sources.
The sources said that both the injured vigilante and the herder were rushed to the General Hospital, Jakusko, for medical attention.
“The herder was confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the injured vigilante is responding to treatment,” the sources added.
Police sources said the remains of the deceased herder had been released to the Sarkin Fulani, Hon. Hassan Lamido Manu, pending the arrival of the family.
He said investigation into the incident was ongoing to ascertain the circumstances and prevent further clashes.
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
By: Michael Mike
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has commended the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for the improvement in the issuance of driver’s licences nationwide and clearance of the backlog.
A statement on Wednesday by Director General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu acknowledges the prompt and comprehensive actions taken by the FRSC in response to service delivery concerns regarding delays in the production of driver’s licences nationwide.
The statement read: “Following PEBEC’s formal communication on November 7, 2025, the FRSC initiated a full internal review and identified the delays within the national driver’s licence production system. PEBEC commends the Corps for swiftly restoring system functionality and implementing enhanced monitoring mechanisms to prevent future disruptions.
“The Council welcomes FRSC’s successful clearance of accumulated backlogs and its increase in daily production capacity to 15,000 licences, an important milestone in improving service efficiency. Of particular significance is the FRSC’s introduction of the Contactless Biometric Capture System, a forward-looking innovation that aims to deliver permanent driver’s licences within 48 hours, effectively eliminating the need for temporary licences. This aligns strongly with PEBEC’s mandate to drive regulatory efficiency, enhance transparency, and improve citizen experience in public service delivery.”
“PEBEC encourages all applicants whose licences have been produced to visit FRSC centres nationwide and pick up their permanent driver’s licences, in line with the nationwide sensitization campaign by FRSC for the collection of over 294,000 unclaimed licences. This will help decongest service centres, improve turnaround times, and support the Corps’ ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency,” the statement added.
“The Council reiterates its commitment to collaborating with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure seamless, responsive, and business-friendly service delivery across Nigeria,” the statement further stated.
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
IPOB staged video in attempts to frame herders, incite genocide narrative
By: Zagazola Makama
A controversial video circulating on social media has triggered outrage over a “staged attempt to weaponise disinformation, incite ethnic tension and portraying peaceful herder communities as Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria’s South East
The video, which purportedly shows “Boko Haram with arms” issuing threats in Hausa, has been dismissed by multiple security sources, community leaders and conflict monitors as inauthentic and deliberately crafted to mislead the public and international community.
The individuals in the clip neither speak with the accent typical of Boko Haram or ISWAP fighters, nor display the mode of presentation associated with jihadist groups in the North East.
Instead, the attackers’ heavily disguised faces, awkward staging, and inconsistent speech patterns strongly suggest that the recording may have been produced by elements of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), allegedly attempting to portray themselves as Fulani or northern extremists.
The objective of such fabrications is twofold: to demonise peaceful pastoralist communities in the South East, and to build false evidence for international audiences by claiming that “genocide” is being committed against Igbo people by Muslim groups despite a lack of credible evidence supporting such claims.
A senior security analyst who has monitored separatist activities in the region described the video as “another poorly staged propaganda material designed to mislead Nigerians and deepen ethnic suspicion.”
According to him, Boko Haram and ISWAP cells have never produced videos with their faces tightly covered in the manner seen in the clip, nor do they speak with the accent heard.
“The mannerisms, language delivery and the entire setup clearly do not align with Boko Haram or ISWAP’s media signatures,” he said. “These are not Fulani herders, nor northern extremists Boko Haram. This was engineered for propaganda purposes.”
Sources in the South East also note that violent attacks in the region over recent years burning of police stations, targeted killings, extortion, enforcement of illegal sit-at-home orders have largely been carried out by IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Yet some of these incidents have been blamed on Fulani communities to sustain a dangerous narrative of ethnic persecution.
Such deceptive tactics risk escalating tensions between ethnic groups and misleading international observers into misunderstanding Nigeria’s complex security landscape.
“This is how dangerous precedents are set,” a northern pastoralist leader said. “We have suffered enough from false accusations. Videos like this are used to justify hatred, violence and calls for international intervention based on propaganda.”
Misinformation especially videos staged to impersonate other groups has become a growing tactic among violent non-state actors seeking sympathy, legitimacy or international attention.
As investigations continue, authorities urge the public to verify information before sharing, noting that propaganda remains one of the most potent weapons used by extremist groups to inflame divisions.
IPOB staged video in attempts to frame herders, incite genocide narrative
Vigilante in Yobe gunned down Fulani herder over alleged destruction of farmland
Boko Haram: Zulum meets COAS, says the worst is over
PEBEC Commends FRSC on Nationwide Clearance of Driver’s Licence Backlog
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