NEMA Reviews Flood Response, Ebola and El Niño Risks
Abuja, Nigeria—October 22, 2026—The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday convened the National Emergency Coordination Forum to review ongoing flood response efforts, strengthen inter-agency coordination against emerging public health threats, including Ebola, and prepare for the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.
The meeting, held at Ajuji Greenwich Hotel in Abuja, brought together stakeholders from key ministries, security agencies, humanitarian organizations, and development partners.
Flood Impact Figures
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed that the agency’s flood dashboard had recorded 673,350 persons affected across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 states as of 20 October 2026. Of this number, 214,997 persons had been displaced, while 245 lives had been lost.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Godwin Topikor, she said the scale of the flooding underscored the urgent need to review interventions, close response gaps, and strengthen collaboration to meet the humanitarian needs of affected communities.
Focus on Health Threats and Climate Risks
Mrs. Umar emphasized heightened surveillance, timely information sharing, and coordinated preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease and cholera, especially in disaster-affected communities where displacement, poor sanitation, and limited services increase health vulnerabilities.
On the expected El Niño, she stressed the need for institutions to harmonize climate forecasts, assess risks and convert early warning information into practical anticipatory actions to protect lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.
She reiterated that effective disaster management requires a proactive, multisectoral approach built on early warning, preparedness, risk reduction, timely response, and sustainable recovery.
The DG urged participants to deepen collaboration, eliminate duplication, and prioritize the protection of vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
The forum featured technical presentations on the current flood situation, Ebola and cholera updates, El Niño implications, and global climate outlooks.
Stakeholders also reviewed sectoral priorities covering food security, health, education, water and sanitation, nutrition, shelter, logistics, and protection.
Key institutions present included the Federal Ministries of Health, Environment, Information and Education; the Armed Forces, Police, NSCDC, NCDC, NiMet, NIHSA, Red Cross and several development partners.
This report is based on the official statement released by the National Emergency Management Agency on October 22, 2026.
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