The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has launched the 2025 National preparedness and response campaign on floods and related hazards in Taraba.
Launching the campaign in collaboration with the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TASEMA) in Jalingo,, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, the Director General (D-G) of NEMA, said that the initiative focused on proactive community-based disaster risk reduction.
The launch had as theme: “Strengthening Community Resilience for Flood Risk Reduction in Nigeria.
Represented by Mr Abbani Garki, the Deputy Director Relief and Rehabilitation in the agency, Umar identified early warning systems for early action, as well as coordinated emergency responses.
The D-G recalled the rainfall and flood forecasts contained in the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigerian Meteorology Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) respectively.
She said that the agencies had provided NEMA with valuable insights into rainfall patterns and flood scenarios during the year.
According to her, the agency has, in view of the above, developed the 2025 Climate Related Risk Management Implication, Preparedness, and Mitigation Actions.
She noted that this would serve as a guide to reducing the impact of floods during the year.
Umar said that NEMA had also developed disaster mitigation strategies such as capacity building of local emergency responders and simulation exercises.
She listed others as, rain water harvesting, adherence to predicted rainfall onset before planting by farmers, and irrigation, among many others.
She called on stakeholders and communities to remain vigilant and actively participate in local preparedness efforts as the 2025 rainy season unfolded.
Also speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement on flood preparedness recently, Dr Echuse Audu, the Executive Secretary, TASEMA, described the meeting as a key strategy towards response to flood disasters.
Audu, who identified logistics as the challenge facing quick response to disasters, said that Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba was providing the agency with needed funds in responding to disasters.
According to her, Kefas is passionate about saving lives.
She, therefore, pledged that the agency would take the awareness to all nooks and crannies of the state.
Audu advised communities who were living along river banks and flood prone areas to relocate to safer places.
She also promised that the agency would collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders to sensitise people at the grassroots on the 2025 flood prediction and scenarios. (NAN)
