Uko Etim, Uyo
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has held a stakeholders’ engagement in Akwa Ibom State to raise awareness and prepare communities for the impending flood season.
This is part of NEMA’s strategies to boost the state’s readiness ahead of this year’s flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Speaking at the Government House, Uyo event on Wednesday, NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said that the move became necessary to save lives and livelihoods during the 2025 rainy season.
The DG was represented by Mr Ugwu Chudi, the Deputy Director, Department of Audit, NEMA Headquarters, Abuja.
While sympathising with the recent flood victims in Niger state, Umar emphasised the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in carrying out early warnings.
“Disaster management across the world is predicated on community participation and due consideration to the diversity of persons, leaving no one behind.”
“We must work together to take the right early warning to specific groups to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in our various communities,” she added.
In her keynote address, the state deputy governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, commended NEMA for her efforts, stressing that the state government has been consistent in sensitisation campaigns and routine gutter desilting to prevent flooding.
She added that the state government has chosen disaster prevention over casualty management.
“The most effective way of managing disaster is preventing its occurrence.”
“We must be absolutely serious about everything discussed here and commit ourselves to diligent implementation,” she added.
Our correspondent reports that the event brought together representatives from various federal agencies, including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
Others were: local government chairmen, traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society organisations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
