NEMA,Kogi SEMA Hold Stakeholders ’ Engagement on 2026 Flood Preparedness and Response

By Salau Ibrahim

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), have had a stakeholders’ engagement on the 2026 Flood Preparedness and Response Plan aimed at addressing the challenges of the impending flood.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, expressed appreciation to the Kogi State Government under the leadership of the Chief servant, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, whose unwavering support made the event possible.

According to Atimah, the stakeholders’ engagement provided a unique opportunity for participants to brainstorm and develop strategies towards addressing the challenges posed by the anticipated flooding.

He noted that the objective of the engagement was to generate fresh ideas and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders across the various local government areas of the state.

He emphasized that early preparedness, inter-agency collaboration and effective response mechanisms would significantly reduce the impact of flooding, minimize losses, and save lives and property.

Atimah thanked the Deputy Governor and all critical stakeholders for attending the laudable engagement and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to disaster risk reduction and emergency response.

Also Speaking, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Umar, represented by the North Central Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Babatunde Razak, stated that the campaign was designed to promote early and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods during the 2026 rainy season.

He urged stakeholders to work together in implementing proactive measures that would enhance disaster preparedness and ensure effective response to flood-related emergencies across the state.

While presenting the break down , according to the 2026 seasonal climate prediction and annual flood  released by the meteorological agency, NIMET and the nigeria Hydrological services agency, 23 states including the FCT, covering 132 local government areas fall within the high flood risk zones

“In kogi state, ten local governments are expected to experience a high flood risk, which includes Ajaokuta, Omala , Kogi , Lokoja , Ofu, Bassa , Idah , Adavi, Ibaji and Igalamela-Odolu.

According to Hajiya Zubaida Umar, NEMA has developed the 2026 climate related Risk management preparedness and mitigation frame work to provede a structured guide  for reducing flood impacts nation wide.

The Head of operations Abuja, incharge of Kogi and Abuja, NEMA, Alhaji Zekeri Abubakar  admonished stakeholders to be more proactive in managing the 2026 impending flood and ensure more robust collaboration between the state and local governments.

The Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on Emergency, Alhaji Shaiibu Muhammed, thanked the organisers of the meeting which indicated that government was committed to playing a vital role in terms of logistics in the 2026 impending flood.

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Stakeholders during the meeting contributed ideas on the need for proper mitigation during the 2026 impending flood.

Highlight of the meeting was a sanitisation campaign carried out at the Ganaja commuinity.