The National Emergency Management Agency has mobilized its emergency response team to Kogi State after flooding submerged multiple communities, displacing nearly two million people.
This deployment is part of the agency’s proactive measures to monitor and address flood incidents across Nigeria.
According to The PUNCH, NEMA’s team consists of search and rescue specialists, who will provide technical support to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and other involved parties.
The team will assist in rescue operations, evacuations, and assessing the damage in the affected areas.
NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, emphasized the importance of swift action. “We have also deployed mobile water purification systems to ensure affected families have access to clean water,” she said.
The deployment follows NEMA’s earlier alert to states identified as high-risk for flooding, urging them to prepare. These states include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, and Kwara.
“We have activated all our zonal, territorial, and operational offices, pre-positioning critical equipment to ensure timely responses, including search and rescue missions as well as evacuation to safer locations,” Umar added.
The statement also highlighted the coordination with various national security agencies, including the Military Disaster Response Units, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who have deployed their personnel for disaster management operations.
Additionally, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has activated its volunteers to support the response.
NEMA is working closely with state-level agencies to set up Emergency Operation Centres for coordinating local efforts. These centres will focus on evacuating at-risk communities, identifying safe areas for temporary shelters, and positioning equipment for rapid response.
In Kogi State, over 200 communities have been submerged by the floodwaters, affecting local governments including Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, and Ibaji.
Data from NEMA’s website shows that, as of October 14, 2024, 1,659 individuals have been impacted, 517 displaced, and 1,601 homes damaged.
Nationwide, floods in 2024 have affected 33 states across 208 local government areas. NEMA’s records reveal that 317 lives have been lost, over 1.2 million people affected, and more than 700,000 displaced.
Additionally, 117,071 homes have been damaged, and 180,828 hectares of farmland have been destroyed.
NEMA has urged residents in flood-prone areas, especially those near the Rivers Benue and Niger, to stay vigilant and cooperate with emergency services. “We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of those affected,” Umar reassured.
