The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday, held a stakeholders’ engagement and community outreach in Katsina State as part of efforts to strengthen preparedness against flooding and related disasters ahead of the rainy season.
The programme was organised under the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards.
Participants at the event included officials of the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), security agencies, government ministries, humanitarian organisations, traditional institutions, women and youth groups, community leaders and the media.
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the campaign was aimed at promoting early and coordinated action to protect lives and livelihoods during the 2026 rainy season.
Umar, represented by the Head of Operations, Malam Suleiman Muhammad, said the theme of the campaign, “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria,” highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
She expressed concern over recurring flooding in parts of the country and referred to the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
According to her, the reports identified several states and local government areas as vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.
The NEMA boss said the agency had developed a 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to reduce the impact of flooding across the country.
She said the framework included capacity building, simulation exercises, infrastructure assessment, prepositioning of relief materials and evacuation planning for vulnerable communities.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of Katsina SEMA, Hajiya Binta Hussaini Dangani, described the engagement as timely, considering the recurring flood incidents in the state.
Dangani commended Gov. Dikko Umar Radda for supporting communities affected by previous floods.
She disclosed that the agency had begun sensitisation campaigns in vulnerable communities across the state ahead of the rainy season.
A presentation on the 2026 Flood Anticipatory Action for Katsina State was delivered by Isa Abulkasir, after which participants discussed measures to strengthen preparedness and response coordination.
The engagement was followed by a sensitisation visit to Kwanar Are community in Rimi Local Government Area.
Officials said the community was selected because of its proximity to the Kwanar Are Dam, which had reached full capacity and could pose flood risks to nearby settlements.
Residents were sensitised on flood prevention measures, early warning signs, evacuation procedures and the need to comply with official weather and flood advisories.
Awareness materials in Hausa and English were also distributed to residents and stakeholders to support the spread of early warning information in vulnerable communities.
