The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has intensified its 2025 flood preparedness strategy with a full-scale simulation exercise in Rivers State, designed to raise community awareness and strengthen coordinated response mechanisms.
The exercise, held in Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area, was supported by the Rivers State Government and featured active participation from multiple stakeholders, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, first responders, and local volunteers.
Speaking at the event, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, described the exercise as a proactive step toward safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and national assets. Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, she stressed that preparedness is the strongest defense against disasters.
“Flooding remains one of the most recurrent and devastating natural disasters in Nigeria. Beyond the loss of lives and property, it disrupts oil production and undermines the economy. The essence of this simulation exercise is not only to test our plans and protocols but also to identify gaps and strengthen our multi-agency collaboration towards building resilient communities,” she said.
In his remarks, Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), represented by Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika, commended NEMA’s initiative and disclosed that the state government has begun the process of establishing a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to institutionalize disaster preparedness and response.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and responsive to early warning alerts while calling on traditional rulers, faith leaders, civil society groups, and the media to serve as grassroots messengers of disaster awareness and mobilization.
Coordinating the exercise, NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, said the operation—code-named Exercise Iji Gbaje-Ugbo—was targeted at flood-prone communities across four local government areas of Rivers State to ensure direct engagement and practical demonstration of emergency protocols.
Responding on behalf of the communities, Chairman of Ahoada West LGA, Mr. Promise Jacob, expressed gratitude to NEMA and the Rivers State Government for bringing the sensitization programme to their doorstep, pledging residents’ cooperation in flood mitigation efforts.
The simulation featured real-time demonstrations of rescue operations, evacuation drills, and inter-agency coordination, underscoring NEMA’s commitment to building resilient communities ahead of the peak flood season.
