NEMA Calls for Better Flood Preparedness in Benue

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on the Benue State Government to improve its flood preparedness and response plans due to heavy rainfall.

On Thursday, NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, spoke during a flood response simulation exercise in Makurdi. This event involved various emergency management groups.

Umar, represented by Usman Bature, NEMA’s director of search and rescue, said Benue is at risk of flooding because of its land layout, many rivers, seasonal rains, and homes near the River Benue and its tributaries.

She emphasized that the 2026 flood outlook highlights the need for ongoing readiness, effective warning systems, coordinated responses, and timely evacuations for people in vulnerable areas.

“This exercise is not just about showing equipment or methods. It is a chance to test how fast and effectively we can go from early warning to action in the community, local coordination, state-level response, and, if needed, federal support,” Umar said.

She stated that the response system is meant to start at the community level and then gradually involve local, state, and federal help as emergencies increase.

This simulation took place about a month after the Federal Ministry of Environment warned that many communities in Benue might face flooding from August 15 to August 28.

In its flood prediction released on August 15, the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre listed Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Igumale, Logo, and Makurdi as areas at critical risk in Benue.

The centre also identified Agbaji, Akoro, Katsina-Ala, Abinsi, Agaku, Agyo, Gbajimba, Gboko, Gogo, Ito, Mbapa, Otobi, Otukpo, Udoma, Ugba, Ugbokolo, Ugbokpo, Ukpiam, and Vande Ikiya as high-risk areas.

The warning explained that these areas could see a mix of high soil moisture, heavy rain, quick surface runoff, drainage issues, and rising river levels, which could lead to flooding.

Communities in critical-risk areas were advised to stay alert for floods, check evacuation routes, and protect vulnerable homes and important assets.

The centre also told residents to avoid living, parking, trading, or storing items in floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks, and low-lying drainage areas.

For high-risk areas, it recommended clearing drains, monitoring culverts and rivers, and quickly reporting rainfall, ponding, water releases from dams, and river level changes.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy, Sam Ode, noted that Benue’s location along the River Benue makes many communities prone to flooding.

He said the state faces many humanitarian and disaster management challenges that need ongoing readiness, effective coordination, continuous training, and quick responses.

Alia pointed out that the water rescue and evacuation part of the simulation was especially important for Benue. He is hopeful that the lessons from this exercise will improve the state’s readiness and speed up responses during real emergencies.

He also reaffirmed the state government's commitment to working with NEMA on the Rehabilitation Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflicts (RSPIC) to help displaced and conflict-affected individuals.

The simulation, called “Uwar Uma,” was done by NEMA with the Benue State Government and other partners under the Anticipatory Action Task Force.

Agencies involved included the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Defence Headquarters, Federal and Benue State Fire Services, National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Inland Waterways Authority, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

The exercise got support from the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the World Bank.

NEMA mentioned that the simulation followed stakeholder training and community engagement to help everyone understand their roles better, improve emergency response abilities, raise awareness about flood risks and evacuation processes, and enhance agency coordination.

Umar assured the Benue Government and other partners that NEMA will keep supporting efforts to boost preparedness, reduce vulnerabilities, and improve the ability to save lives and protect livelihoods.