The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officially launched the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) on June 11, 2025, at the Nigerian Red Cross Conference Hall in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, by Dr. Godwin Tepikor, Director of the South-South Zonal Office, the campaign was described as a proactive measure to translate the 2025 flood forecasts into local action. Based on predictions from NiMet and NIHSA, the agency developed early warning strategies and risk reduction plans to help vulnerable communities prepare for expected rainfall and flooding.
Stakeholders were urged to extend these early warnings to the grassroots through collaboration with SEMA, LEMCs, and community volunteers. The agency also called for more support from partners to ensure past flood experiences are not repeated.
Engr. Tamunosiki Ogbanga, representing the state government, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to integrating these efforts into local policies and actions.
Mr. Chidi Ogundu of NEMA emphasized the importance of state-level readiness and outlined steps being taken to improve early response and mitigation.
The second phase of the campaign involved community outreach in Abuloma, where residents were trained on Basic Life Support, fire prevention, and firefighting, with support from the Nigerian Red Cross and Federal Fire Service. A First Aid box was donated to the community at the end of the exercise.
The event was attended by representatives from various agencies and stakeholders, including the state government, military and paramilitary forces, disaster management institutions, local government leaders, civil society, academia, and the media.
