The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government, has inaugurated a National Disaster Response Simulation Exercise in Yola, the state capital.
The exercise focused on a flood disaster scenario involving the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and possible riverine flooding in communities across Adamawa.
Speaking on the development on Thursday, in Yola, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the exercise was designed to enhance coordination, communication, interoperability and efficiency among stakeholders involved in disaster management in Nigeria.
Umar, who was represented by Air Commodore Bature Usman, Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, said the simulation was aimed at testing existing plans, procedures and response protocols, while identifying gaps, generating lessons and strengthening inter-agency collaboration in disaster response.
“Today, we are simulating a crisis scenario so that we can be better prepared to save lives when a real disaster occurs,” she said.
She explained that the annual release of water from the Lagdo Dam had the potential to affect 12 frontline states in Nigeria, beginning with Adamawa.
The NEMA boss added that the identification of Adamawa among the 31 states considered at high risk of flooding in the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) further underscored the need for proactive measures.
“The increasing frequency and severity of flood events underscore the need to strengthen preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action and effective response mechanisms,” Umar said.
She noted that flooding remained one of the most recurrent and devastating natural hazards in Nigeria, with significant impacts on lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and communities.
Flagging-off the exercise, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa described the initiative as important, stressing that flood disasters required preparedness and coordinated action before, during and after emergencies.
Fintiri, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, said the state’s experience over the years had shown that early warning, timely evacuation, effective search and rescue operations, and strong coordination among responding agencies could save lives and protect livelihoods.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Adamawa Government to supporting disaster risk reduction efforts and strengthening early warning systems.
“The theme and focus of this exercise demonstrate our collective commitment to moving from a largely reactive approach to a more proactive and anticipatory disaster management system,” he said.
The governor commended the participating agencies for coming together to test preparedness and urged them to take the exercise seriously as an opportunity to improve coordination and operational readiness.
The exercise was code-named ‘EX HISNUGO YONKIIJI’.
The participating organisations included the Nigerian Army, paramilitary agencies and United Nations partners under the Anticipatory Action Task Force.