24th May, 2025
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has flagged off a nationwide preparedness drive in Bauchi State aimed at curbing the devastating impact of seasonal flooding, with a clear warning that residents of high-risk communities must act now to avert disaster.
The campaign, tagged the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC), was officially launched in Bauchi on Friday, with NEMA emphasizing the state’s vulnerability to floods based on early predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
Mr Bitrus Samuel, Deputy Director of General Services at NEMA, explained that the campaign is a proactive response to NiMet’s warning. “We are here because Bauchi is among the high-risk states for flooding this year. This campaign is about taking early warning messages to the grassroots so that people are not caught unawares,” he said.
He stressed that NEMA’s approach was built on community engagement. “Disasters begin at the local level. If the people are properly sensitised, they can reduce the impact. Our goal is to equip them with knowledge before the flood strikes,” Samuel added.
The sensitisation efforts extended beyond government offices to the heart of Bauchi’s commerce—Muda Lawal Market—one of the communities previously affected by both flood and fire incidents. NEMA officials engaged traders and community leaders directly.
Addressing market leaders, NEMA official Mr Simon Katu urged residents to form community-based disaster response groups. “Preparedness is not just the government’s responsibility. Communities must take ownership, volunteer, and work together. Self-help is often the first line of defense before government intervention arrives,” Katu said.
The campaign launch drew participation from key security and emergency responders, including the Nigerian Army, Police, Fire Service, and Civil Defence Corps, highlighting the multi-agency approach to disaster management.
Also speaking at the event, Hajara Wanka, Bauchi State’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, assured that the state government had already activated early response protocols. “We’ve issued directives to ensure that all disaster-prone areas across the state are not only prepared but also supported in their response capacity,” she said.
With communities like Muda Lawal Market already on the alert, the message from NEMA is clear: preparedness starts now, and everyone has a role to play in protecting lives and livelihoods from the looming threat of floods.
