The Enugu State Government says it has strengthened emergency preparedness across the state following the Federal Government’s 2026 flood prediction, which listed Enugu among states at risk of flooding.
The Head of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Chinasa Mbah, said Governor Peter Mbah had approved early measures to improve disaster response even before the latest flood alert was released. These included training for Local Emergency Management Committee members across the 17 local government areas of the state and other key stakeholders. The training, held in the first quarter of the year, was themed, “Building and Strengthening Emergency Resilience in Enugu State.” Mbah said the programme was designed to prepare communities for quick and effective response during flooding and other emergencies.
“We equally collaborated with the National Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross, among others, in carrying out community engagement programmes,” she said. “This is because community members are always the first responders in any emergency, including flooding.” The Federal Government had warned that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at risk of flooding in 2026, with high-risk communities spread across 266 local government areas. Enugu was listed among the affected states in the Annual Flood Outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
Mbah said Enugu SEMA had also embarked on radio jingles and sensitisation campaigns, especially in communities considered vulnerable to flooding. She said the agency was working with local government chairmen and traditional rulers to ensure that residents receive timely information on safety measures.
According to her, the administration’s ongoing road construction projects across communities also form part of broader flood mitigation efforts, as the roads are being built with drainage channels to control water runoff and reduce the impact of heavy rainfall. She added that the state government was stockpiling relief materials through Enugu SEMA to support residents who may be affected if flooding occurs. Previous preparedness efforts by the agency have included the storage of food, non-food items, daily consumables and shelter materials.
The state government said its approach is focused on prevention, early warning, community readiness and rapid response. Mbah urged residents to cooperate with emergency officials, avoid blocked drains and report flood threats early, stressing that disaster management is a shared responsibility.
