As Nigeria prepares for the 2026 rainy season, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, has raised concerns over the country’s disaster response system, warning that it remains largely reactive rather than preventive.
Speaking ahead of the peak rainfall period, Umar said Nigeria’s emergency management framework continues to prioritise post-disaster relief instead of proactive risk mitigation, despite growing threats linked to climate change.
According to her, while the 2026 seasonal forecast does not indicate widespread flooding, the risk of sudden urban flooding remains high—particularly in cities with inadequate drainage infrastructure.
She stressed that the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns, driven by climate change, means even traditionally low-risk areas are now vulnerable to disasters.
“The spotlight must now shift to the states,” Umar said, urging state governments to implement preparedness measures, including identifying evacuation routes, pre-positioning relief materials, and strengthening local emergency response systems.
She expressed concern that many states have yet to fully operationalise their State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), describing them as underfunded, understaffed, and lacking direct coordination with state leadership.
Umar revealed that NEMA receives hundreds of distress requests weekly from across the country, ranging from floods and windstorms to fire outbreaks.
“This is not emergency management. It is emergency charity,” she said, emphasising the need to move beyond relief distribution to structured disaster preparedness and prevention.
She also identified operational challenges, including the poor location of some NEMA offices far from disaster-prone communities, which delays response time during emergencies.
Security threats, particularly from banditry, further complicate response efforts, with emergency teams sometimes forced to suspend operations in high-risk areas.
Beyond logistics, Umar noted that effective disaster management requires trauma care, community engagement, and conflict resolution—elements she said are often overlooked in Nigeria’s current framework.
She, however, commended the Disaster Response Units of the Nigerian military for their effectiveness, describing them as a critical component of the country’s emergency response structure.
Despite existing challenges, Umar highlighted ongoing reforms within NEMA, including improved welfare packages such as hazard allowances and structured conditions of service for personnel.
She reiterated the agency’s commitment to building a more resilient and coordinated disaster management system capable of protecting lives and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, disaster management experts have called for greater transparency in the use of ecological funds allocated to states for environmental risk mitigation.
Labaran Saleh of Youth Against Disaster Initiatives criticised the persistent underfunding of SEMAs and pointed to outdated equipment within NEMA, some of which, he said, has been in use for over 15 years.
He added that delays in budget approvals continue to hinder timely interventions, limiting the agency’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
Experts argue that without significant investment in preventive infrastructure—such as drainage systems and evacuation centres—Nigeria may continue to face recurring disaster cycles.
As the rainy season draws closer, stakeholders say the urgency for a shift from reactive response to proactive planning has never been greater.
