The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun its 2026 sensitisation campaign on flood disaster preparedness and response in Akwa Ibom.

The Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said at the opening of the campaign in Uyo on Monday that there was a need for the proactive involvement of stakeholders in the sensitisation exercise.

Represented by Zubaida Umar, the Zonal Director, South-South, Ms Umar said that the campaign was designed to drive early and coordinated action to protect lives and property during the rainy season.

Speaking at the event with the theme, “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria”, the D-G said that stronger inter-agency collaboration would ensure effective sensitisation.

She said that the theme of the campaign underscored the need for stronger institutions, clearer responsibilities and proactive collaboration among stakeholders.

“The recurrent impact of flooding in Nigeria demands an urgent and collective response.

“Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and public and private infrastructure worth billions of naira are damaged,” she said.

Ms Umar said that the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency listed Akwa Ibom among the moderate-risk states.

She urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to devise ways of taking the campaign to communities.

The NEMA D-G further urged stakeholders to be proactive in disaster risk reduction, saying that disaster reduction was far cheaper than disaster response.

She urged state agencies to clear drains and prepare to relocate residents of flood-prone communities to safer areas.

She disclosed that communities in 14 local government areas of Akwa Ibom had been predicted to experience flooding during the year.

Earlier, Joseph Esidem, the Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor’s Office, said that the state government had made preparations to reduce the impact of flooding during the year.

Represented by Isaac Umanah, SEMA Desk Officer, Mr Esidem urged residents to avoid dumping waste in drains.

He also said that the state government had ordered the routine clearing of drains across the Uyo metropolis to reduce water surges.

“As we begin this campaign today, let us make a pact that 2026 will be the year that Akwa Ibom moved from reacting to disaster to being disaster ready,” he said. 

(NAN)