Makurdi: The Director-General (D-G) of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has highlighted that Benue remains highly susceptible to flooding. This was disclosed during the NEMA/Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) Full-Scale Simulation Exercise on riverine and urban flooding held in Makurdi.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Umar, represented by Air Commodore Bature Usman, NEMA Director of Search and Rescue, attributed the flooding vulnerability of the state to its topography, extensive rivers and floodplains, seasonal rainfall, and settlements along the River Benue and its tributaries. She emphasized the importance of ongoing preparedness, early warning, effective coordination, and timely evacuation, as underscored by the 2026 flood outlook.
The exercise, code-named ‘Uwar Uma’ or ‘Saving Lives’, aimed to evaluate the state’s readiness for potential riverine and urban flooding scenarios. Umar emphasized that the exercise was not only about demonstrating equipment or procedures but also about assessing the transition from early warning to community action and coordinated responses at both state and federal levels.
Umar encouraged participants to identify weaknesses in plans, communication systems, logistics, coordination arrangements, and response capabilities, emphasizing that any gaps presented opportunities for improvement. She praised the Benue Government, Benue-SEMA, local emergency management committees, security, health, rescue, humanitarian, and technical agencies for their involvement in the exercise.
She also expressed gratitude to international partners like the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank for their support.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue, represented by his deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, inaugurated the exercise and urged NEMA to honor its commitment to establishing a rehabilitation scheme for individuals affected by conflicts within the state. This commitment, he said, has raised significant hope among residents displaced and affected by conflicts, who have lost their livelihoods and been forced to leave their communities.
Governor Alia stressed that rehabilitation involves more than just rebuilding physical structures; it is about restoring hope, rebuilding livelihoods, and returning families to their ancestral homes. He assured NEMA and other partners of the state government’s readiness to cooperate in turning this intervention into a reality.
Highlighting the state’s vulnerability due to its location along the River Benue, the governor noted that many communities are exposed to recurring flooding, while prolonged conflicts have displaced thousands and disrupted livelihoods. He stressed the importance of preparedness, coordination, continuous training, and institutional and personnel capacity to respond promptly to disasters.
The simulation exercise, according to the governor, provided a vital opportunity to test emergency response systems, strengthen operational readiness, identify gaps, and enhance inter-agency collaboration. He expressed hope that insights from the exercise would boost preparedness and coordination during emergencies.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fortifying Benue-SEMA, improving emergency preparedness, and enhancing collaboration with NEMA, security agencies, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders. The exercise featured practical simulations of flood rescue and evacuation involving relevant emergency response agencies and stakeholders.