The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on the Benue State Government to intensify flood preparedness and strengthen coordination among emergency responders as persistent rainfall continues across the region.
The appeal was made by NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar during a full-scale flood response simulation exercise in Makurdi. Stakeholders gathered at the event to evaluate regional readiness for potential flood disasters.
Represented by NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Usman Bature, Umar noted that Benue’s geographical features—including extensive river systems, floodplains, and settlements along the River Benue and its tributaries—significantly heighten the state’s vulnerability to flooding.
She emphasized the critical need for functional early warning systems, streamlined coordination, and proactive evacuation plans for residents in high-risk zones, aligning with projections from the 2026 flood outlook.
“This exercise is not merely a demonstration of equipment or procedures. It is an opportunity to test, under realistic conditions, how quickly and effectively we can move from early warning to community action, local coordination, state-level response and, where necessary, federal support,” Umar stated.
According to NEMA, effective disaster management must begin at the grassroots level, with scaled support deployed from local, state, and federal authorities as conditions worsen.
The simulation follows a flood warning issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment, which flagged critical flood-risk locations across the state, including Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Igumale, Logo, and Makurdi.
Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to closely monitor flood alerts, identify evacuation routes, safeguard essential property, and avoid living or farming near riverbanks and known floodplains.
