The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to reinforce flood preparedness and emergency response efforts across Nigeria during the 2026 rainy season.

The agency’s Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, announced the activation on Tuesday while inaugurating members of the NEOC team at NEMA headquarters in Abuja.

According to Umar, the activation of the operations centre is part of proactive measures to improve emergency readiness and strengthen coordination among stakeholders throughout the flood season.

She urged members of the team to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, professionalism and a proactive approach, noting that their work would be critical to managing flood-related emergencies across the country.

Umar emphasised that information produced by the centre must be accurate, timely and reliable to support effective disaster response and informed decision-making.

“Information generated and disseminated from this centre must be factual, timely, and reliable to support effective decision-making and efficient management of disasters,” she said.

She stressed that credible and timely information remains vital for early intervention, rapid deployment of relief materials and the protection of vulnerable communities facing climate-related hazards.

According to the Director-General, effective information management will also help safeguard lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure threatened by flooding and other extreme weather events.

Responding on behalf of the team, Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr Tony Ephraim, assured the Director-General of the team’s commitment to continuous monitoring and effective information management.

He pledged that members would maintain comprehensive data collection, analysis and reporting to support swift decision-making during emergencies.

“We will sustain round-the-clock monitoring and ensure robust data analysis to support timely decision-making and coordinated national response efforts,” he said.

NEMA said the National Emergency Operations Centre will function as the central operational hub for monitoring flood developments and coordinating intelligence sharing among disaster management agencies.

The centre is also expected to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders and reinforce national emergency response mechanisms throughout the 2026 flood season.

Source: NAN (Nannews)