NEMA Reports 245 Deaths and 214,997 Displaced by Flooding

As of October 20, 2026, flooding in Nigeria has caused 245 deaths and displaced 214,997 individuals, affecting a total of 673,350 people across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 states. During a meeting with key stakeholders, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Director General of NEMA, represented by Dr. Godwin Topikor, the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, highlighted the urgent need to review current interventions and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to meet the humanitarian needs of affected communities.

She called for enhanced surveillance, timely information sharing, and coordinated preparedness to address public health threats in disaster-affected areas. Umar also stressed the importance of harmonizing climate forecasts and translating early warning information into actionable measures.

Furthermore, she convened the National Emergency Coordination Forum to assess ongoing flood response efforts and prepare for the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon. Mr. Tony Ephraim, Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, urged participants to contribute to identifying operational gaps and improving disaster preparedness.