Nema Raises Alarm, Warns Ogun, 31 States of High Risk Flooding

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that 31 states, including Ogun, face a high risk of flooding in 2026, urging emergency agencies and communities to strengthen preparedness and coordination.

The agency gave the warning on Thursday during a full-scale flood disaster response simulation exercise held at the Apo River, Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The exercise was designed to test the readiness of emergency responders and improve coordination, communication, interoperability and efficiency among agencies involved in disaster risk management.

Speaking at the event, NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) identified 31 states, including Ogun, as being at high risk of flooding.

Umar, who was represented by the Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Usman Bature, said the forecast required proactive and coordinated measures to minimise the potential impact of flooding on lives and livelihoods.

She described flooding as one of Nigeria’s most recurrent and devastating natural hazards, noting that its effects extend to lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, the environment and communities.

According to her, the increasing frequency and severity of flood events have made it necessary to strengthen preparedness, early warning systems, anticipatory action and emergency response mechanisms.

She cited recent flooding in parts of Kaduna metropolis following heavy rainfall as a reminder of the need for communities and emergency responders to remain vigilant during periods of intense rainfall.

Umar said such incidents further demonstrated the importance of simulation exercises, which allow responders to test existing plans, identify gaps and improve coordination before actual disasters occur.

“Today, we are simulating a crisis so that we can be better prepared to save lives when a real disaster occurs. Let me reiterate that preparedness is key to saving lives.

“The success of disaster response depends largely on how well stakeholders planned, trained, coordinated and worked together before disasters occurred,” Umar said.

She urged participants to approach the exercise with professionalism and commitment, saying it should be used to identify areas requiring improvement and validate existing response arrangements.

In his remarks, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the simulation provided an opportunity to practically assess the preparedness of institutions and the ability of critical stakeholders to coordinate effectively during flood emergencies.

He said the state government had continued to support the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) with resources, including training for personnel and local emergency responders.