NEWS
Abia State Govt Launches Flood Early Warning Sensitisation Campaign to Strengthen Community Preparedness
The Abia State Government has commenced a statewide grassroots sensitisation campaign on the downscaling of the 2026 Flood Early Warning Strategies, in a move aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and reducing the impact of flooding across vulnerable communities.
The exercise, themed “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness Governance for a Resilient Nigeria,” was officially launched at the Aguiyi Ironsi Conference Centre, Umuahia, with key stakeholders from government agencies, emergency management bodies, and community representatives in attendance.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, highlighted the importance of ensuring that flood predictions and warnings translate into immediate preventive measures at the community level.
Represented by the Director of Information in the Office of the SSG, Mr. Uma Ibem Oke, the SSG emphasized that effective awareness and early action remain critical in protecting lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure from the devastating effects of flooding.
He explained that the initiative was designed to ensure that accurate and timely flood-related information gets to residents, especially those living in high-risk areas, while equipping communities with the necessary knowledge to respond appropriately before disasters occur.
The SSG further urged traditional institutions, community leaders, stakeholders, and residents to actively support the sensitisation programme by sharing vital information within their communities to enhance preparedness and resilience.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, described the exercise as a significant step in advancing the state government’s commitment towards disaster risk reduction and the protection of lives and property.
He commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its continued partnership with the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in tackling climate-related emergencies, particularly the recurring challenge of flooding.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr. Sunny Jackson, disclosed that the sensitisation exercise became necessary following the flood risk projections contained in the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
According to him, Abia State is among the 27 states identified as being at high risk of flooding in 2026, with some affected areas expected to include Arochukwu, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ukwa West, Ukwa East, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South Local Government Areas.
Dr. Jackson stressed that strengthening community-level preparedness and response mechanisms remains essential in reducing the impact of flooding. He appreciated NEMA for initiating the downscaling programme and acknowledged Governor Alex Otti’s commitment towards improving disaster management and emergency response systems in Abia State.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Mr. Walson Brandon, noted that the increasing cases of flooding across Nigeria require urgent collaboration among government agencies, communities, and relevant stakeholders.
She emphasized the need for collective efforts towards preventing avoidable disasters and ensuring that vulnerable communities are better equipped to respond to climate-related challenges.
The event also featured a detailed presentation on disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies based on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction. The presentation, delivered by the Head of Partnership and Coordination at NEMA, Mr. Evans Ugoh, highlighted practical steps communities can adopt to minimize flood risks.
As part of the ongoing sensitisation campaign, the team visited Umuogu Mgbaraka Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area, where residents were educated on preventive measures and effective strategies for reducing the impact of flooding.
The initiative is expected to extend to other vulnerable communities across Abia State as part of efforts to build a more informed, prepared, and disaster-resilient society.