The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has urged residents to promptly report floods and other emergencies, warning that timely alerts could save lives and property.
NSEMA Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, made the appeal during a press briefing in Minna on Tuesday, stressing that delays in alerting the agency had previously hampered quick response efforts.
“We would have effectively curtailed various emergencies across the state, including the Agaie and Dikko tanker explosions, if we had received timely reports,” Baba-Arah said.
He noted that although NSEMA eventually coordinated search and rescue operations and deployed emergency teams for damage control, earlier notification would have led to quicker interventions.
Baba-Arah also addressed the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, describing it as one of the most devastating emergencies the state had witnessed in years.
The flood, which occurred in June 2025, claimed over 200 lives, displaced hundreds, and destroyed homes, schools, and farmlands in multiple communities including Kpautgi, Jaagi, Bida, and Katcha.
“We mobilised resources, deployed teams, and provided temporary shelter and relief materials to those affected,” the DG said.
He added that NSEMA has since conducted rapid assessments in the flood-hit areas and continues to monitor threats, including the humanitarian crisis in Rijau Local Government caused by armed banditry.
To prevent further disasters, the agency has launched its annual flood sensitisation and early warning campaigns across all eight Emirate Councils of the state.
“These campaigns are aimed at increasing public awareness, encouraging preparedness, and reducing flood risks in vulnerable communities,” he said.
Baba-Arah commended Governor Umaru Bago for supporting the agency with resources and logistics, which he said had improved emergency response across Niger State.
