Army, NEMA Deepen Partnership to Boost Flood Preparedness, Disaster Response
The Nigerian Army and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have reinforced their strategic partnership to enhance Nigeria’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities, particularly as forecasts indicate heightened flood risks across the country during the current rainy season.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to supporting national disaster management efforts on Friday while receiving the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The Army Chief described NEMA as a critical strategic partner whose mandate complements the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility of assisting civil authorities in maintaining national stability during emergencies.
He assured the agency of the Army’s readiness to provide timely and effective operational support during disasters, revealing that specialized Disaster Response Units (DRUs) have been established across all six geopolitical zones to enable rapid deployment to flood-prone and other high-risk areas.
As part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency coordination, Lieutenant General Shaibu directed the Chief of Training (Army) to grant NEMA access to the Nigerian Army’s Land Forces Simulation Centre. The facility, he said, would be used for joint tabletop exercises and scenario-based planning aimed at improving coordination, decision-making and operational effectiveness ahead of emergency deployments.
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The COAS also stressed the importance of adopting proactive and intelligence-driven approaches to disaster risk management. He urged NEMA to intensify surveillance of critical infrastructure, including dams and reservoirs, while strengthening regional collaboration on transboundary water management to mitigate the impact of seasonal flooding.
According to him, effective disaster response depends on robust early warning systems, timely dissemination of information and seamless collaboration among relevant agencies. He maintained that a coordinated national strategy is essential to safeguarding lives, protecting critical infrastructure and sustaining socio-economic stability.
Earlier, NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar commended the Nigerian Army for its sustained support in disaster management operations across the country.
She disclosed that flood forecasts indicate a high risk of flooding in 33 states during the current rainy season, adding that simulation exercises have been scheduled for vulnerable states, including Oyo, Cross River and Adamawa, to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.
Mrs. Umar appealed for increased military support in critical areas such as engineering, aviation and search-and-rescue operations, noting that enhanced collaboration between both institutions would significantly improve the nation’s capacity to respond effectively to disasters.
The renewed partnership comes as relevant authorities intensify preparedness measures to reduce the humanitarian and socio-economic impacts of anticipated flooding across vulnerable communities nationwide.
By PRNigeria
