NEMA conducts flood simulation in Anambra, warns of looming risk in South-East

…Urges early action as 2025 flood outlook raises alarm

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a full-scale flood response simulation in Ogbaru, Anambra State, as part of renewed national efforts to improve early preparedness and coordination in the face of worsening flood threats.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA, the live exercise was held Saturday along the River Niger and focused on simulating coordinated emergency response among key federal and local stakeholders.

She said the simulation was both a training and assessment mission aimed at exposing gaps in Nigeria’s emergency response systems and reinforcing inter-agency collaboration ahead of predicted severe flooding in the South-East region.

According to the NEMA DG, the simulation comes against the backdrop of recent disasters, including the deadly flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, which she described as a harsh reminder of Nigeria’s vulnerability to recurrent environmental shocks.

She stated that flooding remains one of the most frequent and destructive disasters in the country, often claiming lives, displacing families, and damaging critical infrastructure.

She emphasised that the essence of the Ogbaru simulation was not only to test existing response protocols but also to deepen flood risk awareness among communities and rehearse the responsibilities of relevant actors in real-time scenarios.

Mrs. Umar explained that the initiative targeted flood-prone areas like Ogbaru because early community-level action and clarity of roles are essential for disaster mitigation.

She said:“Our ability to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters depends largely on how well we train and work together before they occur. This simulation is a proactive and strategic step in the right direction.”

She urged all participants to engage the drill professionally, urging agencies to reflect honestly on weaknesses, document challenges, and propose reforms that will strengthen the national disaster response architecture.

Also speaking, the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, revealed that the simulation was preceded by extensive capacity-building sessions and technical engagements with community leaders and emergency responders across the South-East.

He said these engagements were focused on risk sensitisation, flood early warnings, and understanding responder roles at federal, state, and local levels.

The exercise, codenamed “EX IDE MMILI ODACH”, was designed specifically for the South-East zone, where the 2025 seasonal flood outlook has projected Anambra, Imo, and Abia States as high-risk zones.

The simulation was staged at the Nigerian Naval Unit camp on the banks of River Niger and featured real-time participation from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Also present were representatives from Anambra and Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agencies, Ogbaru Local Government, Local Emergency Management Committees, youth groups, local boat operators, and volunteers drawn from across the host communities.

The Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Chief Paul Odenigbo, who represented the State Governor, commended NEMA’s proactive stance and reiterated the state government’s readiness to collaborate fully in flood prevention and emergency response efforts.

He said the state was already taking pre-emptive steps to mobilise local actors and align resources to support early warning dissemination and evacuation readiness in vulnerable areas.