LASEMA, NEMA Intensify Flood Preparedness Campaign Ahead of 2026 Rainy Season

OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has launched a flood sensitization and preparedness campaign aimed at reducing disaster risks and strengthening early warning systems across Lagos State ahead of the 2026 rainy season.

The agencies disclosed this during a press briefing on a stakeholder engagement programme scheduled to hold at the Folarin Coker Hall, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

The event is expected to bring together local government officials, community leaders, market associations, transport unions and civil society groups to review evacuation protocols, flood vulnerability maps and community response plans.

Speaking at the briefing, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said Lagos State was adopting a more proactive approach to disaster management in response to the growing threat of flooding.

According to him, Lagos, being a coastal megacity with an estimated population of over 22 million residents and extensive waterways, remains vulnerable to recurrent flooding incidents.

He revealed that more than 1,100 emergency incidents were recorded in 2025, many of which were linked to flooding, stressing that the state’s focus for 2026 would centre on prevention, early warning systems and community-level preparedness.

“Response alone is no longer sufficient,” he said.

Also speaking, the South-West Coordinator of NEMA, Akinyode Saheed, underscored the importance of collaboration between federal and state agencies in disaster risk reduction.

He said NEMA would continue to support Lagos State with technical expertise, early warning data and relief resources when necessary, adding that the joint operations protocol between both agencies would ensure swift federal intervention whenever emergencies exceed the state’s response capacity.

Saheed described preparedness as a shared responsibility and noted that the ongoing collaboration demonstrated effective coordination between both agencies.

Oke-Osanyintolu outlined a three-pronged strategy for the 2026 flood preparedness campaign, including intelligence and early warning systems, sensitization and capacity building, as well as coordinated response and resource prepositioning.

He explained that LASEMA had upgraded its 24-hour Command and Control Centre with real-time data from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

According to him, residents would receive localized alerts between 48 and 72 hours before anticipated heavy rainfall through radio broadcasts, SMS notifications, social media platforms and community networks.

He added that community disaster marshals were being trained and deployed across the 57 local government areas and local council development areas in the state to serve as first responders and channels for emergency information dissemination.

The permanent secretary further disclosed that emergency equipment and relief materials had been strategically positioned in flood-prone areas, while LASEMA’s Light Rescue, Heavy Duty and Marine Units had been placed on standby under the new joint operations arrangement with NEMA.

He urged residents to support government efforts by clearing drainage channels, avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal and complying with evacuation directives whenever issued.

“Disaster management is not the responsibility of government alone. Blocked drainage remains the leading cause of urban flash floods in Lagos,” he said.

Saheed also called for greater public cooperation with emergency agencies, noting that prompt compliance with warnings and avoidance of high-risk areas would help save lives and reduce pressure on emergency responders.

He further appealed to the media to support risk communication efforts through the dissemination of accurate and timely information capable of preventing panic and aiding coordinated emergency response.

Residents were advised to contact LASEMA through its emergency lines, 112 and 767, to report incidents and seek assistance during emergencies.