The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has warned that Benue remains highly vulnerable to flooding due to its terrain, waterways and settlement patterns.
Umar gave the warning on Thursday in Makurdi during the NEMA/Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) Full-Scale Simulation Exercise on riverine and urban flooding.
Represented by NEMA’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, the director-general said the state’s extensive rivers and floodplains, seasonal rainfall and settlements along the River Benue and its tributaries heightened its exposure to flooding.
She said the 2026 flood outlook underscored the need for sustained preparedness, early warning systems, effective coordination and timely evacuation.
Umar said the exercise, code-named “Uwar Uma”, meaning “Saving Lives”, was designed to assess Benue’s preparedness and response capacity for riverine and urban flooding.
She said the exercise was not simply a demonstration of equipment and procedures but an opportunity to determine how quickly authorities could move from early warnings to community action and coordinated state and federal responses.
According to her, lessons from the exercise should be documented through a “Hot Wash” and After-Action Review and translated into practical measures to strengthen the state’s Flood Emergency Response and Contingency Plan.
“NEMA is committed to working with the Benue Government and other stakeholders to strengthen disaster preparedness, reduce vulnerability and improve the capacity to save lives and protect livelihoods,” she said.
Umar urged participants to identify weaknesses in emergency plans, communication systems, logistics, coordination mechanisms and response capabilities, noting that every gap identified provided an opportunity for improvement.
She commended the Benue Government, Benue-SEMA, Local Emergency Management Committees, communities, security agencies, health and rescue teams, as well as humanitarian and technical organizations for participating in the exercise.
The NEMA director-general also appreciated the support of international partners, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank.
Alia Seeks NEMA Support for Conflict Victims
Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, who declared the exercise open, appealed to NEMA to fulfill its commitment to establish a rehabilitation scheme for people affected by conflicts in the state.
Alia, represented by his deputy, Dr Sam Ode, reminded the NEMA director-general of her earlier commitment to establish a Rehabilitation Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflicts (RSPIC) in Benue.
He said the proposed intervention had raised hopes among displaced and conflict-affected residents who had lost their livelihoods and been forced to abandon their communities.
“Rehabilitation is not merely about rebuilding physical structures.
“It is about restoring hope, rebuilding livelihoods, returning families to their ancestral homes and restoring the dignity and confidence of our people,” the governor said.
Alia assured NEMA and other partners of the state government’s readiness to collaborate to ensure that the intervention became a reality.
He said Benue’s location along the River Benue exposed several communities to recurring floods, while prolonged conflicts had displaced thousands of residents and disrupted livelihoods.
The governor stressed the importance of preparedness, coordination, continuous training and strengthening the capacity of institutions and personnel to respond promptly to disasters.
He said the simulation provided an opportunity to test emergency response systems, improve operational readiness, identify gaps and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
Alia described the practical focus on water rescue and evacuation as particularly relevant to Benue, expressing optimism that lessons from the exercise would improve the state’s preparedness and coordination during emergencies.
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He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Benue-SEMA and deepening collaboration with NEMA, security agencies, humanitarian organizations and other stakeholders.
The exercise featured practical simulations of flood rescue and evacuation involving emergency response agencies and other stakeholders.
, Mrs Zubaida Umar, has warned that Benue remains highly vulnerable to flooding due to its terrain, waterways and settlement patterns.){kind=link}