NEMA Begins Disaster Preparedness Campaign in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has released vulnerability maps to help communities nationwide prepare for flood disasters and related hazards.

Director‑General Zubaida Umar presented the maps during a stakeholders’ engagement and the launch of this year’s National Preparedness Campaign against flood disasters, which took place in Bauchi yesterday.

Represented by Northeast Zonal Director Suleiman Abdullahi, the director‑general underscored the recurring impact of flooding, including loss of life, damage to public and private infrastructure, and displacement of residents across the country, and called for urgent, collective action.

She cited the 2016 seasonal climate prediction issued by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and other relevant bodies, which identified fourteen states and 132 local government areas as high‑risk flood zones.

State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Hajiya Amina Katagum urged civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders to mobilise communities for disaster‑preparedness activities.

While praising NEMA for organising the programme, the commissioner advised residents in flood‑prone areas to avoid building on waterways and to maintain proper sanitation in their surroundings to safeguard their safety.