The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged stakeholders in flood-prone areas to take necessary actions to reduce the adverse impacts of floods during the rainy season.
The Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, stated this at a stakeholders’ engagement on flood disaster organised by the agency on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria.
The programme focused on the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) on flood disasters and related hazards for effective early actions to save lives and livelihoods during the rainy season.
NEMA Launches 2025 Flood Preparedness Campaign in Bayelsa State
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has officially flagged off the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) on flood and related disasters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on June 16, 2025.
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— NEMA Nigeria (@nemanigeria) June 17, 2025
Umar was represented by Mr. Godwin Tepikor, Director, NEMA South-South Directorate.
She noted that the devastating impact of floods over the years served as a wake-up call to all tiers of governments to collaborate with the agency to manage disaster risks and their associated hazards.
According to her, Nigerians have suffered injuries and lost their life savings due to unmitigated incidences of floods and secondary hazards every year.
“The rainfall and flood forecasts contained in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction and the Annual Floods Outlook by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency provided us valuable insights into rainfall patterns and flood scenarios during the year.
“In the same vein, NEMA has developed the 2025 Climate-Related Risk Management Implications, Preparedness and Mitigative Actions out of the NIMET-NIHSA predictions to serve as a guide to reduce the impacts of flooding during the year,” she added.
She further said that out of the eight local governments in the state, seven had been predicted to be affected by flooding during the rainy season.
In his remarks, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), noted that Bayelsa was at the receiving end of hydrological consequences and flood-related hazards and disasters.
Represented by Mr. Felix Asingbi, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office of the SSG, Ayawei noted that Bayelsa was the worst hit due to its geographical location.
He, then, urged all stakeholders to play their roles in ensuring that the preparedness and response to the flood are hitch-free.
Also speaking, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, the Yenagoa Local Government Chairman, urged residents to stop dumping refuse into waterways to avoid flood disasters.
He also advised citizens to desist from building on water channels and flood-prone areas.
The high point of the event was a visit to Tombia Community in Yenagoa LGA to sensitise them on emergency measures to combat flooding.