By Stanley Nwanosike
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it would embark on massive sensitisation in some council areas in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States on the 2026 Flood Prediction.
The Information Officer of NEMA Enugu Operations Office, Mr Ezeani Nnanyelugo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Enugu.
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 Feb.10 and April 15, respectively.
Nnanyelugo said that the two agencies in their predictions noted that there would be high rainfall and high risk of flood in the three states under the NEMA Enugu Operations.
According to him, we have fliers on flood risk reduction activities and actions in both English and 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 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 be conducting flood sensitisation programmes including drills/simulation exercises with other stakeholders in major flood prone council areas within the states.
He said that NEMA had started downscaling of flood early warnings to identified hotspot council areas and would soon commence direct writing to the authorities of councils and communities involved.
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 existing Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps condition as well as updating the equipment holdings of stakeholders.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)