The National Economic Council (NEC) has asked all 36 states in Nigeria to strengthen their emergency response agencies as the country prepares for possible flooding this year. It has also called on the Federal Ministry of Finance to urgently release funds to help states get ready.
This call was made after a presentation by the head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, during the council’s latest meeting. Umar gave an update on how prepared Nigeria is for flooding in 2025 and what still needs to be done.
According to a statement from Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson for the Vice President, NEC also encouraged local governments and communities to take responsibility for reducing flood risks. People were urged to join awareness campaigns and report early signs of flooding to the proper authorities.
To support these efforts, NEC directed the Finance Ministry to release emergency funds not just to state governments, but also to the Federal Capital Territory and key federal agencies involved in disaster response.
NEMA’s report highlighted several improvements since last year. These include a new National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2024–2027), created with help from the United Nations, and an ongoing review of flood risks across the country.
The agency has also improved how it works with the military and other security forces during emergencies. Partnerships with the police, civil defence corps, and the Nigerian Red Cross have made joint disaster response efforts stronger.
For 2025, NEMA said it had already reviewed weather forecasts and passed early flood warnings to state governments between May and June. It has supported State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and set up Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs). An Emergency Coordination Forum is also now active, bringing together the military, police, and other responders.
NEMA activated its Emergency Operations Centre on May 29, 2025. Centres are now running at both national and regional levels. Search and rescue equipment has been sent to the states most at risk, and early warning messages are being shared widely through a national campaign.
Still, the agency flagged several problems slowing down the country’s flood response. These include poor drainage systems, delays in getting information from states, security challenges in some flood-prone areas, and weak or inactive SEMAs and local emergency committees.
Other issues mentioned were illegal buildings, poor town planning, and dirty environments caused by bad waste management.
In response, NEC is asking state governments to do more: strengthen their emergency agencies, make sure local committees are working, follow building regulations, and make monthly environmental sanitation a priority. It also wants states to set aside proper funds for disaster preparedness in their yearly budgets.
With heavy rains already on the horizon, these steps may be the difference between calm and chaos.
