The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has activated the agency’s zonal directorates and operations offices to be on standby following a high flood risk alert issued for 15 states across the country.

The advisory, released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), forecasts a severe risk of riverine flooding due to rising water levels in Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu, and Abia states.

Following the alert, Umar directed NEMA formations covering the affected areas to immediately activate existing preparedness mechanisms. She instructed officials to maintain close coordination with relevant authorities and monitor developments in vulnerable locations to ensure swift response interventions.

She equally appealed to state and local government authorities to activate their emergency protocols and pre-position essential relief materials, including food, safe drinking water, medical supplies, and rescue equipment at strategic high grounds for rapid deployment.

In a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Manzo Ezekiel, the DG stressed the importance of early action to mitigate the potential impact on lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. She urged residents in high-risk zones to act proactively.

“Residents of communities located on floodplains, riverbanks, low-lying areas and other exposed locations must take the warning seriously and move to identified safe and higher ground before flood conditions become critical,” Umar warned.

She emphasised that adequate attention must be given to vulnerable individuals, including children, older persons, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities during evacuation exercises.

Furthermore, the NEMA boss cautioned citizens against crossing flooded roads, bridges, or fast-moving water on foot or in vehicles, advising them to comply with official evacuation advisories.

She assured the public that NEMA will continue to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with NIHSA and State Emergency Management Agencies, adding that its rescue teams remain fully on standby.