NEMA Orders Immediate Evacuation of Residents in High-Risk Floodplains

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has directed residents of communities situated along high-risk floodplains of the River Niger to evacuate without delay, following warnings of rising water levels upstream.

NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, issued the directive in a statement on Friday in Abuja, stressing that the precautionary measure was necessary to prevent loss of lives and property.

According to her, the alert was triggered by reports of increasing water levels in the Republic of Benin, which could flow downstream into Nigeria and affect communities along the River Niger.

“All NEMA field offices covering flood-prone communities along the River Niger axis have been instructed to intensify advocacy, sensitisation and mobilisation of residents for immediate evacuation to safer grounds,” she said.

Umar urged state and local emergency agencies, as well as traditional and community leaders, to support the awareness campaign and ensure that residents comply with evacuation advisories.

She warned that ignoring the evacuation order could expose households to severe flooding, displacement and potential casualties, adding that the safety of citizens remained the agency’s top priority.

The DG also called on humanitarian partners and relevant government bodies to prepare for emergency response, relief distribution, and temporary shelter management in anticipation of possible displacement.

NEMA, in its annual flood outlook earlier this year, identified several states along the Niger-Benue basin as high-risk areas, with warnings that heavy rainfall and upstream discharges from neighbouring countries could exacerbate flooding in 2025.