The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Zubaida Umar, has said that Benue remained highly vulnerable to flooding.
Umar stated this on Thursday in Makurdi at the NEMA/Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) Full-Scale Simulation Exercise on riverine and urban flooding in Makurdi.
The D-G, who was represented by Air Commodore Bature Usman, NEMA Director of Search and Rescue, said the state topography, extensive rivers and floodplains, seasonal rainfall and settlements along the River Benue and its tributaries make it vulnerable to flood.
She stated that the 2026 flood outlook had underscored the need for sustained preparedness, early warning, effective coordination and timely evacuation.
Umar explained that the exercise, code-named “Uwar Uma”, meaning “Saving Lives”, was designed to test the state’s preparedness for riverine and urban flooding.
“The exercise is not merely a demonstration of equipment or procedures, but an opportunity to test how quickly we can move from early warning to community action and coordinated state and federal responses.
“The lessons from the exercise should be documented through the “Hot Wash” and After-Action Review and translated into practical measures to strengthen the Benue 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 assured.
Umar urged participants to identify weaknesses in plans, communication systems, logistics, coordination arrangements and response capabilities, stressing that every gap identified presented an opportunity for improvement.
She commended the Benue Government, Benue-SEMA, Local Emergency Management Committees, communities, security, health, rescue, and humanitarian and technical agencies for participating in the exercise.
The D-G appreciated international partners, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
She also commended the World Bank for their support towards the exercise.
Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, who declared the exercise open, appealed to NEMA to fulfil its commitment to establish a rehabilitation scheme for persons affected by conflicts in the state.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Sam Ode, reminded NEMA-D-G of her earlier commitment to establish a Rehabilitation Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflicts (RSPIC) in Benue.
He said the commitment had raised considerable hope 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,” Alia said.
The governor assured NEMA and other relevant 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 flooding, while prolonged conflicts had displaced thousands of people and disrupted livelihoods.
Alia stressed the need for preparedness, coordination, continuous training and the capacity of institutions and personnel to respond promptly to disasters.
According to him, the simulation exercise provided an opportunity to test emergency response systems, strengthen operational readiness, identify gaps and deepen inter-agency collaboration.
