With the rainy season set to peak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), emergency responders have made a case for proactive collaboration to mitigate the impact of flooding.
At a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign 2026, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) told residents of the nation’s capital that from weather forecasts, there were indications that communities in flood-prone areas are at high risk.
Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation, FEMD, Dr. Mark Nyam, who spoke on the occasion, appealed to the stakeholders to come up with measures to prevent the loss of life and property this season.
Also speaking, Head of Abuja Operations Office, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Zakari Abubakar disclosed that the agency has rolled out several measures to mitigate the impact of flooding across the country.
“Our intervention focuses on prevention, preparation, response and support to ensure recovery,” he said.
Abubakar counseled FEMD to cascade the campaign to the grassroots and communities residing along river banks.
Lending his voice, Director, FCT’s Department of Development Control, Tpl. Bashir Madaki, called for implementation of waterway policy to reduce flooding in FCT.
Participants at the meeting visited flood-prone locations in Mabushi and Lokogoma Districts of FCT.
Top officials from National Orientation Agency, Nigeria Red Cross, FCT Fire Service and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) attended the meeting.
In a related development, FEMD has taken its gospel of preparedness and sensitization against flooding to Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT.
Addressing palace officials, Dr. Nyam blamed human activities for flooding in the Territory.
He dismissed claims linking flooding in Gwagwalada to dam activities.
“Disaster is localized. The attitude of some of our people worsens the situation. Do not dump refuse in the drainage system and do not build on the water channel,” he cautioned.
Most district and village heads, who spoke on the occasion, blamed the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the Council on absence of a dump site.
They also want strict enforcement of extant laws to ensure environmental sanitation.
In a remark, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Mohammed Magaji promised that the message would be cascaded to the district, ward and village heads as well as religious leaders in his domain.
Represented by the Wazirin Gwagwalada, Alhaji Bala Garba Madaki, the Aguma described the visit as important, pledging the commitment of his cabinet to encourage people who reside by the river bank to relocate to higher ground.
*PHOTO CAPTION: This is the sort of scenario FEMD, others seek to prevent.
