NEMA, Military,Other Stakeholders Storm Kebbi To Brainstorm On Flood Control

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Military on Monday stormed Kebbi State to sensitised stakeholders on Simulation Exercise to control Flood Disaster and Response.

 NEMA Director for North-West Zone, Sani Lokoja-Alhaji, while welcoming participants, said at the event on in Birnin Kebbi that the exercise was geared towards achieving the vision of a disaster resilient country. 

“At NEMA, our vision is to build a disaster resilient Nigeria, exercises like today’s are central to achieving that vision. We must remember that preparedness saves lives, reduces losses, and fosters resilience in our communities.

 “Flooding, whether from torrential rains, river overflow, or infrastructure failure, has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities across the North-West and indeed the whole country.

“It disrupts livelihoods, damages infrastructure, threatens health, and strains social cohesion, climate variability and change are amplifying these risks, making preparedness and coordinated response not optional but imperative”, he said.

Lokoja-Alhaji averred that as we are all aware, Kebbi State, like many other parts of Nigeria, is increasingly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of flooding, especially during the peak of the rainy season. 

He pointed out that the 2025climate variability, environmental degradation and human activities along river banks had heightened the risks to lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.

In his remarks, the state’sCommissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Empowerment, Alh. Muhammad Hamidu-Jarkuka, commended the organisers for their timely preparedness on disaster response.

He expressed that Gov. Nasir Idris is always committed to fulfilling his primary constitution mandate of protecting the lives and property of people in the state.

 The commissioner assured the stakeholders of the state government’s  continued commitment to partner with relevant agencies to address flood disaster in the state. 

However, the participants comprised of representatives from SEMA, flood-prone communities, riverine areas, local divers, and state ministry of humanitarian affairs. 

 Also in attendance were representatives of Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Federal Fire Service (FFS) among others.