The National Emergency Management Agency on thursday carried out a flood rescue simulation and sensitization exercise for residents in Kaduna State, aimed at improving community level response ahead of the 2026 rainy season.
The drill, part of NEMA’s nationwide Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign on floods and related hazards, focused on equipping residents with practical skills to act as first responders during emergencies before official rescue teams arrive.
Speaking during the exercise, Mr Suleiman Muhammad, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kaduna Office, said the simulation was designed to build local capacity and reduce casualties during flood incidents. He stressed that quick community action in the first minutes of a disaster often determines how many lives are saved.
“By training the communities and running simulations, residents will be able to respond immediately when emergencies occur, even before government agencies get there,” Muhammad said.
“We want communities to start rescue efforts for their people right away.” He said.
He noted that Kaduna is among states facing moderate flood risk in 2026, according to forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency. He added that 21 local government areas in the state are likely to experience flooding this season.
Muhammad said NEMA had already engaged stakeholders and traditional institutions in Chikun and Kaduna North LGAs on precautionary measures. He urged residents to clear blocked drainages and adopt other preventive steps to lessen the impact of floods.
“We don’t want disasters to happen, but we must take proactive action so that losses to lives and property are minimal,” he said.
Pastor Andrew Gladstone, General Overseer of a church in one of the flood-prone communities, commended NEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the exercise. He noted that flooding occurs about twice yearly in the area, leaving residents with recurring hardship.
“This flood situation has caused a lot of challenges to us and the community around here,” Gladstone said. “We thank God for NEMA and the Red Cross. They helped us a lot today, but we want government to provide lasting solutions so this will not keep happening.”
