The National Economic Council (NEC) on July 31, 2025, called for a significant enhancement of operational capabilities within State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across Nigeria, following a detailed presentation by Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), during the council’s monthly meeting.
The session, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, focused on the country’s 2025 flood preparedness and response initiatives, prompted by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency’s (NIHSA) Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), which identified 33 states with over 150 Local Government Areas (LGAs) at high flood risk and 34 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, at moderate risk.
Umar’s briefing highlighted a series of proactive measures, including nationwide simulation exercises, the establishment of a National Coordination Forum, and the integration of 30 years of climate data into the Hazard Risk Countrywide Analysis to bolster resilience.
The NEC’s directive stems from a critical assessment of past responses, notably the 2022 floods that displaced 1.3 million people and caused $1 billion in damages, and the 2024 Mokwa flood in Niger State, which exposed gaps in state-level coordination. Umar emphasized that while NEMA has distributed relief materials, such as 10,000 bags of rice and medical supplies to Kano State on July 28, and conducted sensitization programs, the lack of standardized training and funding for SEMAs undermines national efforts.
The council proposed a ₦50 billion emergency fund, to be disbursed through a revised 2025 budget, and mandated the creation of a task force led by state governors to align local strategies with NEMA’s framework. Critics argue this top-down approach may overlook regional disparities, with states like Bayelsa facing coastal flooding challenges distinct from inland flash floods in Kano. The narrative of improved preparedness is ambitious, but its success hinges on overcoming bureaucratic inertia and ensuring equitable resource allocation across Nigeria’s diverse landscapes.