In a bid to strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a full-scale flood simulation exercise in Dukku, a riverine community on the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Dukku has been identified as one of the high-risk communities vulnerable to severe flooding in the 2025 season, with a river running through the settlement increasing its exposure to flood hazards.
The simulation exercise, organized in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government, was designed to test flood response plans, improve stakeholder coordination, and raise public awareness of potential disasters. It is part of NEMA’s broader preparedness strategy targeting flood-prone areas across Nigeria, especially in the North West and North Central zones.
Leading the exercise was the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who emphasized the importance of readiness and collaboration in saving lives during disasters. She noted that the simulation was aimed at enhancing coordination, communication, and operational efficiency among all disaster response stakeholders.
She said “as we all know, flooding remains one of the most recurrent and devastating natural disasters in Nigeria, with far-reaching impacts on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and communities. We are simulating a crisis today so that we are better prepared to save lives when it becomes a reality. Let me reiterate that preparedness saves lives.”
She added that the exercise was also intended to identify gaps in existing response mechanisms and strengthen multi-agency collaboration across the region.
Participants in the exercise were critical first responders, including military Disaster Response Units (DRUs), the Nigeria Police, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The simulation was meant to also highlight the flood risks that may arise from intense rainfall and the potential overflow of dams in the region, which could significantly impact communities.
As part of the Agency’s support to the common, the Director General NEMA Mrs Zubaida Umar also presented life jackets to residents of Dukku to aid their personal safety in the event of flooding.
