News
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
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.
Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.
She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.
Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.
She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.
Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.
She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.
The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
WEF 2026: VP Shettima Commissions First Ever Nigerian Pavillion In Davos
Troops arrest three suspected ISWAP recruitment agents in Banki
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News9 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
