In a proactive effort to mitigate the impact of anticipated flood disasters, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has launched a one-day grassroots sensitization campaign across flood-prone local government areas in Oyo State.
The campaign, held in Egbeda Local Government, brought together key stakeholders from high-risk local councils including Ona Ara, Lagelu, Ibadan North, Iwajowa, Atisbo, and Iseyin. This initiative comes as NEMA forecasts significant flooding in 2025, identifying 43 local governments across 12 states—including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—as high-risk areas.
Representing the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the agency’s Zonal Director, Mr. Saheed Akanmu, emphasized the importance of early warning systems and community engagement. “NEMA has deployed response teams nationwide to deliver critical preparedness information and engage with flood-prone communities,” he said.
Welcoming the delegation, Hon. Adewale Ayanniyi, the Supervisor for Environment, represented the Executive Chairman of Egbeda LG, Hon. Sanda Sikiru Oyedele. He commended NEMA’s forward-thinking initiative and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to disaster prevention and environmental safety.
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Oniladuntan of Laduntan, Oba Sulaiman Akinola Oladepo, and the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Alhaji Ayo Salami, urged residents to take flood warnings seriously. They called on the public to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the blockage of drainage systems, citing the devastating 2012 Ibadan flood as a cautionary example.
The sensitization program was attended by a broad cross-section of society, including security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives, the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), political office holders, and senior local government officials.
The campaign marks a crucial step in building resilience among communities vulnerable to climate-induced disasters
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