As Nigeria braces for the 2025 rainy season, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched a proactive campaign in Bauchi State to strengthen flood preparedness and response at the grassroots level.
The initiative, part of NEMA’s 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC), aims to mitigate the risks of flooding in vulnerable communities. During a stakeholders’ engagement session held in Bauchi, state and federal authorities emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to minimize the impact of climate-related disasters.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Hajara Yakubu Wanka, welcomed the collaboration, noting that Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration remains committed to fostering partnerships that protect lives and property.
“This campaign is timely and strategic,” Wanka said. “As we face the growing threat of seasonal disasters, joint efforts are essential for building resilient communities and ensuring rapid and effective response mechanisms.”
Representatives from various emergency and security agencies — including the Nigerian Army, Police, Civil Defence, and Fire Services — attended the meeting, underscoring the inter-agency approach needed to address flood risks effectively.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Bitrus Samuel, Deputy Director of General Services at NEMA, identified Bauchi as one of the states most at risk of flooding based on early warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
“NEMA is taking a forward-looking stance,” Samuel said. “The goal of this sensitisation is to translate NiMet’s forecasts into actionable information for communities, so they are not caught unprepared.”
Samuel emphasized that disaster risk reduction must begin at the local level. “When communities understand what actions to take ahead of disasters, the chances of loss and displacement significantly reduce,” he added.
As part of the campaign, NEMA also visited Muda Lawal Market — a location previously impacted by both flood and fire incidents. There, agency officials engaged with traders and market leaders to promote disaster readiness.
Mr. Simon Katu, a NEMA official addressing the market stakeholders, encouraged community-driven safety initiatives. “Disaster management is not the sole responsibility of government,” Katu stated. “We’re encouraging individuals to form volunteer groups and take the lead in protecting their own communities.”
He added that the campaign is expected to promote behavioral change, enhance cooperation among stakeholders, and improve local response systems.
By taking the message directly to the people, NEMA hopes to build a more prepared and disaster-resilient nation, with Bauchi serving as a model for community-level preparedness.
