The governments of Yobe, Adamawa, and Borno have rolled out emergency response plans to tackle expected flooding during the rainy season, following warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
In Yobe, the State Emergency Management Agency has deployed real-time river-monitoring digital platforms in riverine communities.
Director of Search and Rescue Operations Ibrahim Jalo said the agency has engaged security agencies, ministries, persons with disabilities groups, and humanitarian partners to strengthen disaster response.
Local government early warning and action committees have also been activated and trained to improve grassroots response.
The state government has directed the agency to set aside relief materials and food items for 60,000 households, with 7,400 sandbags earmarked for embankments in vulnerable areas.
Relief materials are being positioned in Damaturu, Potiskum, and Geidam for quick deployment.
SEMA has mapped out community leaders and emergency contacts to cut response time and plans to evacuate residents of 12 flood-prone areas to identified safe locations in Gujba, Damaturu, Bursari, Geidam, Yunusari, Fika, Potiskum, Jakusko, Bade, Gulani, Karasuwa, and Machina.
Jalo urged residents to heed early warnings and cooperate with officials during evacuations.
In Adamaw, the government will soon commence the demolition of houses built on waterways.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment Syngana Dahdah said residents whose houses were marked for demolition and compensation must vacate immediately.
The ministry has forwarded a memo to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on desilting drains in Yola and reconstructing drainages along the Shagari and Yolde Pate axis, areas hit by severe flooding in 2025 due to blocked drains.
The ministry has also finalized plans to demolish embankments built on farms for irrigation, saying they obstruct waterways and worsen flooding.
The National Emergency Management Agency recently concluded an awareness campaign on disaster preparedness in Yola-North and Yola-South, covering Makama, Mbamba, Angwan Tarbo, Shagari, Rimawa, and Gbonrinji communities.
In Borno, hundreds of residents have been evacuated from flood-prone Dikwa to safer shelters.
Director-General of SEMA Ali Abdullahi said the move is part of a broader disaster risk reduction strategy to protect lives and property.
The agency continues to provide food and relief materials to Kala Balge, which faces annual floods from water released in Cameroon.
SEMA has also carried out massive drainage clearance in Maiduguri.
Targeted interventions, including desilting and drainage construction, have been carried out in Ajilari Cross, Kopa, and Bulumkutu-Dala—areas identified as highly vulnerable.
“We are currently expanding drainage systems and clearing blocked waterways to reduce the impact of flooding,” Abdullahi said.
