The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it will embark on a massive sensitisation campaign in some council areas in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States regarding the 2026 Flood Prediction.

The Information Officer of NEMA Enugu Operations Office, Mr Ezeani Nnanyelugo, disclosed this in Enugu on Saturday.

Mr Nnanyelugo said that the agency, its partners and stakeholders would carry out robust sensitisation in the states.

The sensitisation followed the 2026 Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Seasonal Climate Prediction and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) Annual Flood Outlook released on February 10 and April 15, respectively.

Mr Nnanyelugo said that the two agencies, in their predictions, noted that there would be high rainfall and a high risk of flooding in the three states under the NEMA Enugu Operations.

According to him, we have flyers on flood-risk reduction activities and actions, in both English and the Igbo indigenous language, to distribute to flood-prone communities identified in the prediction.

He said, “We have started and would sustain public enlightenment on the prediction through television, radio and online news platforms.

“Recently, the NEMA South-East Zonal Director and Information Officer shared information on NTA on the NEMA preparedness plan.

“NEMA is also partnering with NiMet and NIHSA officials to ensure that their predictions are discussed among stakeholders in various meetings, trainings and workshops for the purpose of reducing flood risk in the states.”

He also said that the Agency would conduct flood sensitisation programmes, including drills and simulation exercises with other stakeholders in major flood-prone council areas across the states.

He said that NEMA had begun downscaling flood early warnings to identified hotspot council areas and would soon commence direct writing to the authorities of the councils and communities involved.

Mr Nnanyelugo said, “We have started sharing weekly alerts forecast from NiMet/NIHSA to all relevant stakeholders via WhatsApp forum/meetings, notwithstanding numerous stakeholders’ meetings. The public is advised to stay informed.

“The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, has reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with international humanitarian organisations – KSRElief, UNOCHA, World Food Programme (WFP) and International Office for Migration (IOM).

“These partnerships are meant to enhance service delivery and support vulnerable populations across Nigeria.

“We will partner with various state SEMAs and community leaders soon to identify higher grounds and update on the existing Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps’ condition, as well as update the equipment holdings of stakeholders.” 

(NAN)