The National Emergency Management Agency has conducted a full scale flood disaster response simulation exercise in Ogun State to test the preparedness and coordination of emergency responders ahead of possible flooding.
The exercise, held Thursday at the Apo River area of Owu in Abeokuta, brought together emergency management agencies, security organisations, health personnel, fire services, the Red Cross Society and other stakeholders involved in disaster response.
NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar said the simulation was designed to strengthen coordination, communication, interoperability and efficiency among agencies involved in disaster risk management.
Umar, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Usman Bature, said the exercise was particularly important because the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook identified 31 states, including Ogun, as being at high risk of flooding.
She said flooding remains one of Nigeria’s most recurrent natural hazards, with consequences for lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, the environment and communities. She added that the increasing frequency and severity of flood events made early warning, anticipatory action and preparedness essential.
“Today, we are simulating a crisis so that we can be better prepared to save lives when a real disaster occurs,” Umar said, stressing that effective disaster response depends on how well institutions plan, train and coordinate before emergencies occur.
The NEMA chief urged participants to use the exercise to identify weaknesses in existing response plans and improve arrangements for responding to emergencies. She also called on communities and emergency responders to remain vigilant during periods of intense rainfall.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Ogun State Emergency Management Agency. NEMA’s Chief Search and Rescue Officer, John Digha, said the four day simulation programme would allow participating institutions to demonstrate their operational capabilities and identify gaps in emergency response.
Digha also called for continued public sensitisation and timely reporting of hazards, while urging stronger cooperation between government agencies, communities, non governmental organisations and other stakeholders.
Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako Oyedele, representing Gov. Dapo Abiodun, commended NEMA for organising the exercise. She said the simulation provided an opportunity to practically assess the state’s readiness and the ability of critical institutions to work together during a flood emergency.
The state government said it had continued to support its emergency management agency through resources and training for personnel and local responders. Other officials also emphasised the importance of public awareness, preventive measures and information sharing in reducing disaster risks.
The exercise received support from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme’s Sahel Resilience Project, according to NEMA.
The simulation highlights the shift from responding to disasters after they occur toward anticipatory disaster risk management. For flood prone communities in Ogun and other high risk states, effective early warning systems, evacuation planning, resilient infrastructure and coordinated emergency services will remain critical to reducing casualties and economic losses during the rainy season.
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