The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has convened an Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for anticipated flooding and other climate-related disasters in 2026.
The forum followed a recent Technical Meeting on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and brought together key stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), security services, humanitarian organisations, and development partners.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring sectoral alignment and accelerating the implementation of proactive measures to mitigate the impact of predicted climate risks across the country.
Speaking at the event, NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, stressed that disaster preparedness must extend beyond policy frameworks to practical and coordinated actions.
She said preparedness should translate into concrete and measurable interventions capable of reducing vulnerability and safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
Umar explained that the forum provided a platform to assess sectoral readiness, identify operational gaps, and align priority actions among participating stakeholders.
She urged sector leaders to clearly present their preparedness levels, outline existing challenges, and propose immediate steps to address emerging risks.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the NEMA boss emphasised that effective disaster risk management depends on synergy and timely information sharing among all relevant actors.
She noted that no single institution could respond effectively in isolation, adding that collective efforts remain key to achieving meaningful outcomes.
Umar further called on all agencies and partners to take ownership of their responsibilities and ensure that resolutions reached at the forum are implemented at both national and sub-national levels.
NEMA stated that the Emergency Coordination Forum represents a significant step towards strengthening early warning-to-early action systems, enhancing multi-sectoral preparedness, and reducing the potential impact of flooding and other climate-induced hazards in 2026.
