THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has activated the agency’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to strengthen preparedness, planning, and response efforts ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, said the activation of the centre is aimed at enhancing the coordination, collation, and processing of reliable data regarding the flood situation across the country.

She stated this at an inauguration meet with members of the NEOC, yesterday in Abuja.

Umar charged the team to be diligent, professional, and proactive in the discharge of their duties. She emphasised that information generated and disseminated from the centre must be factual, timely, and reliable to support effective decision making and the efficient management of flooding and other climate induced disasters.

According to the Director General, the activation of the NEOC is part of the agency’s proactive measures to strengthen national preparedness in the rainy season.

She noted that timely access to credible information remains critical for early action, resource deployment, and the protection of lives and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.

Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting at NEMA, Tony Ephraim assured the DG that the centre’s members would work diligently.

He stated that the team would ensure effective monitoring, data collection, analysis, and information management to support a coordinated response to flood emergencies.

The NEOC will serve as a central hub for monitoring the 2026 flood situation, harmonising information from relevant sources, and supporting coordination among stakeholders throughout the rainy season.