Odita Sunday 
Army, NEMA strengthen partnership for flood response, disaster preparedness
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Army has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to improve disaster preparedness, emergency response and humanitarian assistance across the country, especially ahead of the peak of the 2026 rainy season.
According to the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, gave the assurance while receiving the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, on a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Shaibu described NEMA as a critical strategic partner, saying the agency’s responsibilities align with the Nigerian Army’s constitutional role of supporting civil authorities during emergencies and other national crises.
The Army Chief assured the agency of the military’s readiness to provide rapid operational support during disasters nationwide, revealing that specialised Disaster Response Units (DRUs) have been established across the country’s six geopolitical zones for quick deployment to flood-prone and other vulnerable communities.
To further strengthen inter-agency cooperation, Shaibu directed the Chief of Training (Army) to grant NEMA access to the Land Forces Simulation Centre for joint tabletop exercises and scenario-based planning.
He said the initiative would improve coordination, operational planning and decision-making among emergency responders before actual field operations.
The COAS also stressed the need for intelligence-led disaster risk management, urging NEMA to intensify surveillance of dams, reservoirs and other critical infrastructure while promoting regional cooperation on transboundary water management to reduce the impact of seasonal flooding.
According to him, effective disaster management depends on early warning systems, timely dissemination of information and close collaboration among relevant agencies to safeguard lives, protect infrastructure and sustain national socio-economic stability.
Earlier, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Umar, commended the Nigerian Army for its consistent support in disaster response operations across the country.
She disclosed that flood forecasts indicate that 33 states face a high risk of flooding during the current rainy season, adding that simulation exercises would be conducted in vulnerable states, including Oyo, Cross River and Adamawa, to improve preparedness.
The NEMA boss also appealed for greater military assistance in engineering support, aviation logistics and search-and-rescue operations to strengthen the country’s disaster management capacity.
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