The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on the Benue State Government to intensify flood preparedness and improve coordination among emergency response agencies as rainfall persists across the state. This appeal was made during a full-scale flood response simulation exercise held in Makurdi, where stakeholders assessed their readiness to respond to potential flood disasters. The exercise aimed to evaluate the state's preparedness and response to flood emergencies.
NEMA's Director-General, Zubaida Umar, emphasized the importance of maintaining early warning systems, ensuring effective coordination, and facilitating the timely evacuation of residents in vulnerable communities. She noted that Benue's geographical features, including its river systems, floodplains, and communities situated along the River Benue and its tributaries, increase the state's exposure to flooding. Umar's representative, NEMA's Director of Search and Rescue, Usman Bature, stressed that the simulation exercise was crucial in testing the state's response to flood emergencies.
The simulation exercise was held approximately one month after the Federal Ministry of Environment issued a flood warning for several Benue communities between August 15 and 28. The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre had identified Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Igumale, Logo, and Makurdi as critical flood-risk locations, while several other communities were classified as high-risk areas. The centre advised residents in vulnerable locations to monitor flood alerts, confirm evacuation routes, protect essential belongings, and avoid activities within floodplains, riverbanks, and other areas prone to flooding.
Umar stressed that emergency intervention should begin at the community level, with additional support from local, state, and federal authorities deployed as the scale of a disaster increases. She noted that the exercise was not merely a demonstration of equipment or procedures but an opportunity to test how quickly and effectively the state could respond to flood emergencies. The exercise brought together emergency management stakeholders to assess their readiness and identify areas for improvement.
The 2026 flood outlook informed the simulation exercise, which aimed to evaluate the state's preparedness and response to flood emergencies. The exercise also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to test their equipment and procedures under realistic conditions. Umar emphasized that the state's geographical features made it prone to flooding, and therefore, it was essential to maintain early warning systems and ensure effective coordination among emergency response agencies.
The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre's warning was based on the predicted flood risk in several Benue communities. The centre's alert advised residents to take necessary precautions to minimize the impact of flooding. The simulation exercise was a proactive measure to mitigate the effects of flooding in the state. By enhancing flood preparedness and emergency response, the state can reduce the risk of flood-related disasters.
The simulation exercise demonstrated the importance of collaboration among emergency response agencies in responding to flood emergencies. By working together, the state can provide timely and effective support to residents in vulnerable communities. The exercise also highlighted the need for the state to invest in early warning systems and emergency response infrastructure to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Key points
- NEMA urges Benue State to enhance flood preparedness and emergency response
- The state is prone to flooding due to its geographical features
- The simulation exercise aimed to evaluate the state's preparedness and response to flood emergencies
