The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has raised concerns about the devastating impacts of yearly flooding in the country.

The agency announced that it has commenced the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) in Edo State to address flood risks and associated hazards.

NEMA’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, highlighted the severe effects of yearly floods in Nigeria during a stakeholders’ engagement in Benin.

Represented by the Head of Operations, Benin Office, Mr Kenoma Ojuedere, Umar emphasised that recent floods have led to the loss of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure, resulting in damages worth billions of naira.

She noted that Nigerians have suffered injuries and lost their life savings due to recurring flood incidents and secondary hazards.

Referencing the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by NIMET and NIHSA, Umar provided insights into expected rainfall patterns and flood scenarios. She disclosed that NEMA had developed the 2025 Climate-Related Risk Management Implications, Preparedness, and Mitigation Actions to guide its response efforts based on these predictions.

“As part of its flood early warning system, NEMA identified disaster risk management implications and mitigation strategies for communication to communities at risk during the rainy season,” she said

Umar called on public and private institutions, humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), school children, and youth organisations to leverage early warning tools to support NEMA’s efforts.

“Consequently, NEMA developed disaster mitigation strategies, including capacity building for local responders, simulation exercises, rainwater harvesting, and adherence to predicted rainfall onset before planting,” she added.