National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said it would embark on massive sensitisation in some council areas in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States on the 2026 Flood Prediction.
The Information Officer, NEMA Enugu Operations Office, Mr Ezeani Nnanyelugo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, at the weekend in Enugu.
Nnanyelugo said 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.
Nnanyelugo said the two agencies in their predictions noted that there would be high rainfall and high risk of flood in the three states under NEMA Enugu Operations.
According to him, we have fliers on flood risk reduction activities and actions in both English and Igbo languages 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 NEMA`s preparedness plan.
“NEMA is also partnering 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 be conducting flood sensitisation programmes including drills/simulation exercises with other stakeholders in major flood prone areas within the states.
He added that NEMA had started downscaling flood early warnings to identified hotspot council areas and would soon commence direct writing to the authorities of councils and the communities involved.
Nnanyelugo said, “We have started sharing weekly alerts forecast from NiMet/NIHSA to 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 strengthen 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 various SEMAs and community leaders soon to identify higher grounds and update on existing Internally Displaced People, IDP, camps condition, as well as update the equipment holdings of stakeholders.” NAN