Abuja: The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to strengthen preparedness and response to flooding across Nigeria during the 2026 rainy season. NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, announced the activation on Tuesday while inaugurating NEOC team members at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. Umar stated that the centre’s activation is part of measures to enhance emergency readiness and ensure effective coordination among stakeholders throughout the flood season.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Umar emphasized the importance of the team’s diligence, professionalism, and proactive approach in managing flood-related emergencies nationwide. She highlighted the necessity for information generated by the centre to be accurate, timely, and dependable to support effective decision-making and disaster management efforts. Umar stressed that credible and timely data is crucial for early action, rapid deployment of relief materials, and protecting vulnerable communities from climate-related hazards.
Umar further noted that effective information management is vital for safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure threatened by flooding and other extreme weather events. Responding on behalf of the team, Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Tony Ephraim, pledged the team’s commitment to continuous monitoring and information management. Ephraim assured the Director-General that the team would maintain rigorous data collection, analysis, and reporting to support prompt decisions during emergencies.
The NEOC will serve as the central operational hub for tracking flood developments and coordinating intelligence sharing among disaster management agencies. The centre is also expected to drive collaboration among key stakeholders and strengthen national response mechanisms throughout the 2026 flood season.