NEMA Identifies 11 Niger Local Governments as High‑Risk Flood Zones

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has identified 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Niger State as high‑risk flood zones in preparation for the 2026 rainy season.

Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director‑General of NEMA, announced the list on Thursday in Minna during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting that focused on the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) for flood disaster and related hazards.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the meeting’s theme was “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Community in Nigeria.”

Umar, represented by Mr Abdulrazak Adebiye, North Central Zonal Director of NEMA, named the affected LGAs as Agaie, Bida, Borgu, Edati, Gbako, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun, Magama, Mashegu and Mokwa.

She said the assessment relied on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

According to her, 23 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, encompass 132 LGAs that fall within high‑risk flood zones, while 148 LGAs in 14 states are classified as moderate‑risk areas.

Umar emphasized that recurring flooding in Nigeria demands an urgent and collective response, noting that flood disasters annually cause loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and disruption of livelihoods.

She added that communities also suffer injuries, displacement and loss of savings due to unmitigated flood incidents and their secondary impacts.

The NEMA chief explained that the agency held expert review meetings on March 31 and April 1 to evaluate the forecasts and evolving climate conditions across the country.

Those reviews highlighted possible delayed or erratic rainfall onset, shorter growing seasons, above‑normal rainfall in some areas, prolonged dry spells and increased temperatures.

Umar warned that the projected climate conditions could negatively affect agriculture, healthcare, transportation, energy, water supply, education and public wellbeing if proactive measures are not taken.

She further stated that NEMA has developed the 2026 Climate‑Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to reduce the impact of flooding nationwide.

Mitigation measures outlined include capacity building for local responders, simulation and tabletop exercises, strict adherence to rainfall and flood advisories, prepositioning of relief materials and development of evacuation plans.

She also disclosed that vulnerability maps have been produced for the identified communities, and that technical teams will be deployed to states for grassroots sensitisation and direct community engagement.

Earlier, Mr Hussaini Isah, Head of NEMA Minna Operations Office covering Niger and Kwara states, described disasters as consequences of poor planning, weak institutions and inadequate preparedness.

He said the engagement was necessary in view of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by NiMet and the Annual Flood Outlook by NIHSA, adding that successes in flood management in 2025 were due to strong partnerships among stakeholders.

Isah called for stakeholders to collectively strategise, define their roles and responsibilities and establish clear rules of engagement for effective flood management in 2026.

Alhaji Abdullahi Baba‑Arah, Director‑General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), noted that the state had established an Emergency Operations Centre that has yet to become fully operational due to a shortage of personnel.

In goodwill messages, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk, represented by Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, pledged the support of traditional institutions in promoting early warning systems and public sensitisation.

Alhaji Akilu Musa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, called for stronger synergy among stakeholders in disaster management.

Dr Zainab Ndanusa, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, NEMA Minna Operations Office, said Lapai Local Government Area was projected to record the highest rainfall of 1,329 mm during the season.

She added that Agaie was expected to record 1,321 mm, and that rainfall in the state would likely continue until October 15.

Vanguard News

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