The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched the 2025 national preparedness and response campaign in Gombe State to improve flood readiness and reduce community impact.

The director-general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, launched the campaign in Gombe on Saturday, stressing the importance of a collective approach to disaster management and grassroots awareness.

Represented by Bitrus Samuel, NEMA’s deputy director of general services, she said the campaign targets stakeholders as a strategic flood preparedness and response initiative.

She explained that the effort responds to early warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) about potential flooding in vulnerable areas.

Ms Umar said NEMA is determined to involve grassroots stakeholders to boost community resilience and enhance flood preparedness and disaster response strategies.

“Our engagement aims to bring early warning information to states and communities, enabling them to prepare for and respond effectively to potential flooding.

“Preparedness and response must be collective efforts. Disaster management is not solely the responsibility of government agencies,” she added.

The director-general urged state stakeholders to intensify grassroots sensitisation, so rural communities understand flood risks and learn how to respond when disasters occur.

Ms Umar praised the Gombe State government for establishing Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in all 11 Local Government Areas to strengthen flood response efforts.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, represented by deputy governor, Manassah Jatau, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to mitigating environmental challenges and reducing flood impacts.

He highlighted major investments in reclaiming degraded land and addressing erosion as part of the government’s wider environmental protection agenda.

While inaugurating the committees, Mr Yahaya urged members to act proactively and take the flood awareness campaign directly to local communities.

He explained that the committees are to report all disasters from the grassroots to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for prompt response.

They are also to develop and implement Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Resilience strategies tailored to community needs and local vulnerabilities.

“Conduct regular assessments to identify and reduce risks, including environmental, physical, and human factors threatening the communities,” the governor said.

He added that members must follow the state emergency management agency’s disaster preparedness plan for effective coordination and rapid response.

The governor also called on communities to keep drainages clear and dispose of waste properly using new collection centres provided in various neighbourhoods.

He applauded NEMA for educating stakeholders on disaster response, saying the effort would improve awareness and reduce flooding across communities.

In partnership with SEMA, the Fire Service, NiMet, and others, NEMA extended the campaign to London Mai Dorawa to address flood and fire risks.

During the outreach, locals received practical guidance on disaster management and preparedness measures to protect lives and property.

Abubakar Adamu, district head of Wuro Laddai, thanked all agencies for their collaborative effort in raising disaster preparedness awareness in the community.

 (NAN)