The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) as part of efforts to enhance coordination and response to the 2026 flood season across Nigeria.
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, inaugurated members of the Centre at the agency's headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, saying the move is aimed at improving the collection, processing and dissemination of reliable information to support effective flood preparedness and emergency response nationwide.
She charged members of the Centre to carry out their responsibilities with diligence, professionalism and proactiveness, stressing that accurate and timely information remains critical to effective disaster management.
According to her, the Centre will ensure that data generated during the rainy season is factual, credible and promptly shared to guide decision-making and facilitate efficient management of flooding and other climate-induced disasters.
Mrs. Umar said the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre forms part of NEMA's proactive strategy to strengthen national preparedness and improve coordination among emergency response stakeholders throughout the 2026 rainy season.
She noted that timely access to credible information would support early warning, rapid deployment of resources and the protection of lives, property and livelihoods in flood-prone communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Operations Centre, NEMA's Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr. Tony Ephraim, assured the Director-General that members of the Centre would work tirelessly to ensure effective monitoring, data collection, analysis and information management.
He said the team would provide the timely intelligence required for coordinated responses to flooding and other climate-related emergencies across the country.
The National Emergency Operations Centre will function as the central hub for monitoring the 2026 flood situation, harmonising information from relevant agencies and supporting collaboration among stakeholders to enhance disaster preparedness and response throughout the rainy season.