The National Economic Council (NEC) has called for the strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across the 36 states of the federation, urging the Federal Ministry of Finance to release emergency funds to address impending flood effects.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), STANLEY NKWOCHA, revealed that the council’s resolution followed a presentation by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), ZUBAIDA UMAR, on the country’s 2025 flood preparedness and response initiatives during the council’s meeting.
NEC said Local government areas and communities were specifically directed to take ownership of local risk mitigation efforts, engage actively in awareness campaigns, and report early signs of flood risk to appropriate authorities.
It also urged state governments to fully strengthen SEMAs, operationalise Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), enforce physical planning laws and building code compliance, and institutionalize monthly environmental sanitation while prioritising disaster preparedness funding in annual budgets.
