As Nigeria continues to witness increasing rains with growing warnings of impending floods, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), has sensitised residents on ways to avert future flooding and its impacts.

NEMA’s South-West Coordinator, Saheed Akiode, who spoke during a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign held in Osogbo, Osun state, said the initiative aimed to promote early action to save lives, livelihoods during the 2025 rainy season and prevent a repeat of devastating flooding incidents experienced in Mokwa, Niger state, which claimed many lives and properties.

Akiode noted that the affected areas, predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NiMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency(NIHSA), in Osun state include Osogbo, Ede North, and Isokan local government area.
“The partnership and collaboration of stakeholders must be strengthened and sustained to proactively prepare for anticipated disasters to reduce losses and human suffering, “he said.
He emphasised the need for intergovernmental collaboration to reduce the impact of flooding and promote resilience in the state.
Similarly, the General Manager, OSEMA, Mr Biola Oni, said the state had taken proactive steps ahead of impending flood occurrence as predicted by relevant government agencies.

He noted that OSEMA, in collaboration with other stakeholders in the state, had also embarked on downscaling the awareness campaign at various communities so that people at the grassroots would be adequately sensitised on what they need to do to avert flood disaster.

Oni added that the current administration in the state had also embarked on dredging of waterways and major canals in the state to prevent flood occurrence.

Also speaking, a traditional leader in the state, Chief Abiodun Emmanuel, urged government to provide sufficient waste disposal trucks across the state. He warned the residents to desist from dumping waste in the water channels.

He charged Community Development Associations(CDAs), landlord associations and government agencies in charge of town planning to discourage people from building in flood-prone areas.