NEMA launches flood preparedness campaign in Bauchi to strengthen community resilience

Abdullateef Fowewe

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has intensified efforts to boost disaster preparedness amid seasonal flooding risks in Bauchi State.

In a statement shared on Sunday, NEMA’s Gombe Operations Office announced the successful execution of a comprehensive flood preparedness campaign targeting four Local Government Areas (LGAs): Shira, Giade, Jama’are, and Itas Gadau. Shira LGA served as the focal point for the campaign.

Led by the Head of Operations, Ummuna Ahmed, the initiative aimed to enhance early warning awareness and community engagement. Ahmed emphasised the importance of timely preparation, stating, “Timely preparedness remains one of the most effective strategies in minimizing the loss of lives and property during disasters.”

The campaign received strong support from local leadership, with the Chairmen of the four LGAs pledging full cooperation in implementing community-based disaster risk reduction measures.

The engagement involved diverse stakeholders, including traditional and community leaders, security agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside local government officials.

Interactive sessions equipped participants with knowledge on flood early warning signals, evacuation planning, community response mechanisms, and the critical role of inter-agency coordination.

NEMA described this campaign as part of its broader mandate “to build disaster-resilient communities in line with national and international frameworks on disaster risk reduction.”