o strengthen national flood preparedness and improve inter-agency response coordination, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a comprehensive flood simulation exercise in Wudil, Kano State. The drill, held on Saturday, July 5, 2025, was aimed at enhancing multi-stakeholder readiness in line with the 2025 seasonal flood predictions, especially across vulnerable communities in Kano, Jigawa, and Yobe States.
The full-scale simulation, codenamed Ex-Ceton Rayuka, took place along the riverside area of Wudil, testing emergency response strategies in scenarios involving potential dam releases from Tiga, Challawa, and Bagauda Dams. These water releases, if unmanaged, could pose serious risks to downstream communities across multiple Local Government Areas.
Leading the exercise, NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, emphasized the importance of proactive disaster preparedness. She noted that flood-related disasters continue to pose significant threats to lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods in Nigeria.
> “The simulation helps us strengthen coordination among stakeholders, identify operational gaps, and test emergency protocols. It is a critical part of our strategy to move from reactive responses to proactive disaster management. Preparedness saves lives,” she said.
Mrs. Umar also referenced the recent flood incident in Mokwa, Niger State, as a reminder of the urgent need to build resilience at all levels of governance and community response.
This Kano simulation follows a similar preparedness exercise earlier conducted in Anambra State, signaling NEMA’s nationwide approach to building a culture of readiness.
Representing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, commended NEMA’s initiative and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to disaster prevention, timely response, and public safety. He praised the active role of Kano SEMA and Local Emergency Committees in the successful execution of the drill.
The Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, who coordinated the operation, stated that insights gathered from the exercise would guide improved flood response strategies across Nigeria.
The simulation was jointly organized by NEMA and Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), with active participation from SEMAs in Jigawa, Katsina, and Yobe States. Other key agencies included:
Nigeria Police Force
Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force Disaster Response Units
Nigerian Red Cross Society
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Federal and State Ministries of Health and Water Resources
Local divers and community volunteers
Also present were observers from the Office of the Vice President, Office of the National Security Adviser, Defense Headquarters, UN-OCHA, and Senator Mustapha Khabib representing the Nigerian Senate.
The event concluded a four-day series of activities, including stakeholder advocacy visits, training workshops, and resilience-building sessions—all focused on enhancing community-level flood preparedness and multi-agency coordination.
