The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that the 2024 flooding in Enugu State led to the loss of 25 lives, injured 166 people, and directly impacted 9,352 households.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Enugu by the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, during a stakeholders’ engagement event on the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) 2025.
Themed “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response: Taking Disaster Risk Management to the Grassroots to Save Lives, Restore Normalcy and Build Communal Resilience Across Nigeria,” the session brought together emergency management stakeholders from across the state.
Represented by Dr Evans Ugoh, a NEMA Director, Umar reported that a total of 55,094 individuals were affected by the flooding, with 3,001 households displaced, resulting in significant losses to families and communities.
Speaking on the purpose of the engagement, Umar explained that the initiative was meant to sensitize state and local government officials, as well as emergency responders, about seasonal climate forecasts for 2025.
She noted the predictions were based on assessments from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
“This is with a view to reminding the stakeholders about their responsibilities in flood disaster management. We all know the impacts of flood in the society, and actions to be taking to prevent and mitigate the impacts as stakeholders in disaster management,” she said.
Umar added that NEMA had already taken proactive steps.
“NEMA have developed climate related risk implications, preparedness, mitigation and response actions to reduce the would-be impacts of the 2025 floods, based on the predictions by NIMET and NIHSA.”
“The Agency have embarked on various activities aimed at preventing and mitigating the expected impacts of the disaster. The Agency has written to state governors informing them of the outcome of the 2025 climate predictions in their states,” she said.
In response, Mrs Chinasa Mbah, Director of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said her agency had already informed the 17 local government chairmen of the forecast and outlined their responsibilities.
“We are ready to collaborate with various stakeholders and agencies to see that our people are protected while losses are mitigated to the barest minimum,” she added.
As part of the preparation, she said SEMA would carry out sensitization campaigns and closely monitor drainage systems and waterways in flood-prone areas.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Elijah Willie, Commandant of the NSCDC Enugu State Command, assured stakeholders of the Corps’ readiness to respond swiftly to emergencies.
Represented by Deputy Corps Commandant Mr Victor Duruegbesonu, he stated:
“NEMA, SEMA and disaster victims could reach the corps offices at local government and divisional office to get ‘rapid assistance.’
Meanwhile, Mr Emeka Oko, State Coordinator of the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), expressed gratitude to NEMA, SEMA, and other support agencies including the Nigerian Red Cross, Federal Fire Service, and security services.
“LEMC is ready to take the flood sensitisation to communities and the grassroots to ensure that negative incidents that occurred in 2024 do not repeat itself,” Oko said.
In a related sensitisation exercise held at Amechi Idodo community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, NEMA’s Director General urged residents to adopt proper environmental practices, especially clearing drainages and waterways.
In his response, Igwe Hyacinth Edeani, the Traditional Ruler of the community and Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Nkanu East LGA, gave his assurance:
“As a community we are grantful to NEMA and SEMA assistance for some years now. We are joining hands with these agencies to do everything humanly possible to ensure no negative flood development take place here,” he said.
He further pledged to support the activities of the Community Flood Response Committee, recently inaugurated by NEMA.
“I would ensure that the Community Flood Response Committee inaugurated by NEMA would be guided to function optimally to help in flood mitigation,” Edeani promised.
